By Staff
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A 17-point fourth quarter lifted the Michigan State Spartans to their sixth win of the season.
Michigan State (6-5, 2-5 Big Ten) became bowl eligible with a 48-31 victory over host Purdue on Saturday.
The Spartans grabbed a 7-0 first quarter lead on a 1-yard run by quarterback Brian Hoyer.
The team turned into a shot out in the second half when the Spartans and Boilermakers combined for 45-points.
Michigan State outscored Purdue 24-21 in the quarter to take a 31-21 halftime lead.
The Boilermakers managed a field goal in the third quarter to cut the Spartans' lead to 31-24.
But a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns iced the game for Michigan State.
Former Three Rivers standout Travis Key picked up a Purdue fumble and returned it 20-yards for a touchdown to extend Michigan State's advantage to 41-24.
The Spartans had opened the fourth quarter with a 23-yard Brett Swenson field goal to make it 34-24.
Following a Kory Sheets 41-yard touchdown pass reception, Michigan State put the game away with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Hoyer to Eric Andino.
Jehuu Caulcrick had a pair of touchdowns for the Spartans, while Hoyer also threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kellen Davis.
Michigan State, which hosts Penn State on Saturday in the regular season finale at 3:30 p.m., finished with 416 yards in total offense. Purdue had 517 yards in total offense.
Hoyer was 22-of-31 for 266 yards and the two touchdowns. Javon Ringer rushed for 92 yards, while Caulcrick finished with 78 yards.
Sheets finished with 80 yards rushing and 41 yards receiving.
Curtis Painter was 29-of-45 for 344 yards, a touchdown and two pass interceptions by SirDarean Adams.
Adams returned both first half interceptions inside the Boilermaker's 10-yard line. The first one set up Hoyer's touchdown pass to Davis, while the second one allowed the Spartans to kick a field goal on the last play of the first half.
Michigan State 7 24 0 17 – 48
Purdue 0 21 3 7 – 31
MSU – Hoyer, Brian 1 run (Swenson, Brett kick)
PUR – Painter, Curtis 27 run (Summers, Chris kick)
MSU – Davis, Kellen 2 pass from Hoyer (Swenson kick)
PUR – Sheets, Kory 59 run (Summers,Chris kick)
MSU – Caulcrick, Jehuu 2 run (Swenson kick)
PUR – Painter 7 run (Summers kick)
MSU – Caulcrick 1 run (Swenson kick)
MSU – Swenson 39 field goal
PUR – Summers 32 field goal
MSU – Swenson 23 field goal
MSU – Key, Travis 20 fumble recovery (Swenson kick)
PUR – Sheets 41 pass from Painter (Summers kick)
MSU – Andino, Eric 3 pass from Hoyer (Swenson kick)