Villanova 81, Michigan State 73

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Michigan State coach Tom Izzo loves ``tough guys'' like Gary Buchanan and Ricky Wright.

Too bad they play for the other team.

Buchanan, bouncing back from arthroscopic knee surgery 12 days ago, scored 29 points, and Wright added 18 as Villanova beat Izzo's ninth-ranked Spartans 81-73 Friday night to reach the final of the Great Alaska Shootout.

``We couldn't check them with a fish net,'' Izzo said. ``It was a very disappointing game for us.''

Buchanan was 9-for-14 from the field, including 6-for-11 from 3-point range, as the Wildcats shot 50 percent for the game.

``The first night I was worried (about the knee),'' Buchanan said. ``Tonight, I just let all that go out the window.''

Buchanan's grit earned him praise from Izzo.

``I love tough guys,'' he said.

Villanova (3-1) will face College of Charleston, a 66-58 winner over Oklahoma State, in the championship game Saturday night.

Trailing 68-57 with 7:37 remaining, Michigan State fought back within a point at 71-70 with 3:09 remaining.

But Wright's six points helped push the lead to 78-73 with 1:10 remaining and Michigan State could not score again.

Adam Ballinger led Michigan State (2-1) with 19 points and nine rebounds, but was limited to two free throws over the final 15 minutes.

``I have to do a better job of getting shots and get to the foul line,'' Ballinger said.

Michigan State trailed most of the first half until Alan Anderson found Paul Davis along the baseline. His dunk tied the game 32-32 with 3:40 remaining. Buchanan's two free throws with 28 seconds left gave the Wildcats 36-35 halftime lead.

Wright's three-point play with 17:59 left in the second half started a 17-7 run that gave the Wildcats a 57-47 lead. Their biggest lead was 67-55 with 8:47 remaining.

Michigan State outrebounded Villanova 31-27 but shot just 4-for-14 from 3-point territory. The Wildcats shot 10-for-21 from beyond the arc.

Updated on Saturday, Nov 30, 2002 3:58 am, EST

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