Michigan State survived its national-semifinal rumble with Connecticut last night, pulling away in the final minutes for an 82-73 triumph.

The Spartans, relentlessly rebounding, defending and pursuing loose balls, wore down the Huskies with the help of two subs, Detroit native Durrell Summers (10 points, six rebounds) and guard Korie Lucious (11 points). Michigan State’s bench outscored Connecticut’s by 33-7.

At halftime, Michigan State’s coaches encouraged the Spartans to push Thabeet as far off the block as possible, to keep their hands up and to make him score over them, Ibok said.But after halftime, Thabeet continued where he left off, making two jumpers over Michigan State’s 6-foot-10 center, Goran Suton, in the first 90 seconds. His second basket extended Connecticut’s lead back to 4 points for the second time in the half.