EAST LANSING, Mich. — Something about the inside of the Breslin Center — a cookie-cutter arena set against the backdrop of a quaint, charming college town — turns a mediocre Michigan State men’s basketball team into a formidable foe.

Perhaps the magic lays in the 80 consecutive sellouts, dating back to Jan. 24, 1998. Or maybe it’s the student section, which holds up unflattering photos of women while chanting the names of players’ mothers. Such cockiness no doubt springs from MSU’s 73-4 record here during the last five seasons, including an 11-2 home mark this year.

Although the Spartans may not be a great non-conference opponent, No. 15 Syracuse’s 76-75 win yesterday was, given the atmosphere and history, a great road victory.

“We played spotty on the road this year,” SU head coach Jim Boeheim said. “We haven’t been great on offense even in games we won, except maybe against West Virginia. This was a good win for us.”

Good? Yes. Pretty? No. The win bore the trademark of a classic road victory, one blemished by poor defensive play, inconsistent shooting and an array of bruises. Consider the following:

nThough Syracuse held Michigan State to 42 percent shooting, it allowed the Spartans to hit 48 percent of their 3-pointers. That included 10 of 18 3-pointers for Chris Hill, who the Orangemen continued to leave open in the game’s closing minutes.

nThe Orangemen, by contrast, shot 51.8 percent and 53.3 percent from 3-point range. But SU posted 44 points in the first half compared to 32 in the second.

nGerry McNamara continues to struggle on the road. He hit just 3 of 8 shots, including 1 of 5 3-pointers, for seven points and dished one assist to three turnovers.

“I can’t say why (I struggle on the road),” McNamara said. “I told my teammates, ‘I’d rather play every game in the Dome. But as long as we get a win, I don’t care about it.’ “

The difference yesterday: SU learned to win ugly, with grit and scrappiness. In some ways, the Orangemen resembled St. John’s, which nearly stole a win last Tuesday in the Carrier Dome by playing tough and forcing turnovers.

Yesterday, SU forward Carmelo Anthony’s face twice contorted from pain, once when he banged his elbow going for a rebound and again when his back slammed against the floor after Michigan State’s Kelvin Torbert fouled him.

McNamara iced his left elbow afterward, soreness courtesy of the Breslin Center’s hardwood. He, too, dropped to the ground on occasion, scrapping for loose balls.

To be sure, the bruises will let them remember how they won this game, which, for the Orangemen, is a good thing. SU will need to employ a similar strategy twice more in the near future: at Georgetown next Saturday and in South Bend, Ind., on March 4.

The second date, against Notre Dame, looms large. SU will likely need that road win to earn a bye in the Big East tournament. With SU’s only remaining home games against West Virginia and Rutgers, road play will determine the Orangemen’s fate.

“This is going to help when we get to the tournaments,” SU forward Hakim Warrick said. “That’s the biggest thing right now, getting that bye.”

Said Anthony: “We beat a couple of tough teams in Pittsburgh and Notre Dame, but that was at home. To come in here and beat Michigan State in (ITALICS) their (ITALICS) place, that’s great for us.”

Pete Iorizzo is the sports editor at The Daily Orange, where his columns appear regularly. E-mail him at pniorizz@syr.edu.

Published on February 22, 2003 at 12:00 pm