AUSTIN, Texas -- Like it did against North Carolina, Texas controlled most of the first half against Michigan State. The only difference was how the Longhorns performed in the second half. Texas was outrebounded, 25-13, and allowed the Spartans to take 29 free throws in the final 20 minutes. Adreian Payne scored 19 of his career-high 33 points in the second half as Michigan State picked up its most lopsided win over Texas in school history during a 92-78 victory. Yet it wasnt rebounding, defence or shooting that Texas head coach Rick Barnes was most displeased about. "The biggest area we need to improve in is listening," Barnes said. "We didnt listen the way we needed to. If you dont listen, youre not going to execute." Payne hit 10 of his 13 shots from the floor and knocked down 11 of 12 attempts from the free throw line. He hit a pair of free throws to complete a 14-2 run Michigan State used to put the game away over a 4:22 stretch midway through the second half. "Payne got off scotch-free in the second half because we didnt make him defend," Barnes said. "Michigan State, they werent No. 1 a couple weeks ago for no reason. They beat us. We really needed to make Adreian Payne defend. We didnt do that." Appling, battling a hip pointer, had one of the worst shooting days of his career, connecting on only 2 of 11 attempts from the floor. Payne was one of six Spartans to score during that 14-2 run. Branden Dawson, who had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, started with a layup. Gary Harris, who missed three of the previous four games with an ankle injury, followed with a 3-point play. Between Gavin Schillings putback and Travis Trices 3-pointer, Appling got a layup to go, one of his few bright moments. But the way he responded after the game was one of Izzos favourite moments of the game. "Listening to him after the game, thanking the guys for picking him up was maybe as big a part of this as the win," Izzo said. "We came down here Thursday night because of plane issues. I wasnt really happy about that but it turned out to be really good because we got to spend a little team time. I think our team grew a little bit." Cameron Ridley scored 13 of his team-high 17 points in a first half mostly controlled by the Longhorns, who was coming off an 86-83 win at No. 14 North Carolina. Texas opened the game on an 8-2 run and Michigan State led for only 56 seconds in the first half when Dawson gave the Spartans a 21-19 edge with a layup. But the Longhorns quickly reclaimed the lead on two 3s by Damarcus Croaker. Javan Felix hit a 15-footer in the final seconds of the first half to give Texas a 38-36 lead going into halftime. His only 3-pointer of the game put the Longhorns on top 47-43 early in the second half but they never held that large of a lead again. "All in all, it wasnt a championship but its a big road win for us against a very, very good team," Izzo said. "I think both of those teams have a bright future in the second half of the year." Texas entered the game averaging nearly 10 more rebounds per game than its opponent. But Michigan State outrebounded the Longhorns, 25-13, in the second half and shot 50 per cent from the floor for the game while holding Texas to 39.3 per cent shooting. "We have to learn how to play for 40 minutes, especially against good teams like Michigan State," Felix said. "We played right into their hands by not moving the ball and not getting any movement on offence. That resulted in fastbreak points and got them in a rhythm." Texas had four players score in double figures for the 10th straight game as Isaiah Taylor had 16 points and five assists while Javan Felix and Holmes each added 11 points. Michigan State also had four players with at least 10 points, including Trice, who missed the Spartans last game with a foot blister but chipped in 13 points while hitting 3 of 4 3-pointers. Harris scored 19 points in what was Michigan States most lopsided win over Texas in school history. Cheap Blues Jerseys . "This isnt really the week you want to lose Chris Greaves," fellow lineman Glenn January said Wednesday after practice. Greaves is expected to miss several weeks after suffering a knee injury in last weeks 36-28 win over the Ottawa Redblacks. St.Louis Blues Store . DArnaud hit one of three doubles for the Mets as they took a 4-0 lead in the first. Then the catchers seventh home run of the season broke the game open in the fifth. The 41-year-old Colon (10-8) retired the first 20 batters in his last outing Wednesday against Seattle, eventually allowing two runs on three hits in 7 1-3 innings in a 3-2 win. https://www.cheapblues.com/ . It was a move of some time in the making. “He hasnt thrown well, clearly some guys are being used more than him right now and the only way to get out of this funk is to pitch,” said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. 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In less than two weeks, their Los Angeles Kings and the rival Anaheim Ducks will turn Chavez Ravine into Californias version of a winter wonderland. The NHL is staging its first warm-weather outdoor game on a hockey rink flanked by a beach volleyball court and an below-ground swimming pool in the famed baseball stadiums outfield. The NHLs ice-makers were already at work on a beautiful 79-degree day, and Gretzky cant wait to see the next step in the evolution of a sport that didnt bloom in the California sun until the Great One moved to Los Angeles in 1988. "Im very proud that I was a piece of the group that was sort of responsible for stamping hockey into this area," Gretzky said while standing on the centre field grass. "It was the right group of guys, from Luc (Robitaille) to Marty McSorley to Kelly Hrudey to Tony Granato," Gretzky added. "Each and every guy understood that this was a different market from other markets in the NHL, and these guys always went above and beyond the call of duty to go out and promote the sport and get more and more kids interested." The game will be a landmark for hockey in the American Southwest, which has produced a handful of NHL players and dozens more prospects in the pipeline over the past quarter-century. But the game also heralds the return of the leagues career scoring leader to hockey prominence. Gretzky has mostly stayed out of the public spotlight for five yeaars since leaving the Phoenix Coyotes bench, but he will be a prominent feature during the festivities, thrilling the NHL.dddddddddddd Accompanied to Dodger Stadium by his wife, Janet, Gretzky said he is thrilled to see an outdoor game in the city where he played nearly eight NHL seasons. Robitaille, now the Kings president of business operations, said Gretzky is "like our Babe Ruth, and we need him around." "We cant have this game without having Wayne," Robitaille added. "Its so important hes here. Its so important that he be here for that game. Its the day before his birthday, too. Ive got to remember to have a cake." Gretzky, Robitaille and Anaheim coach Bruce Boudreau got a detailed look at early preparations for the game, which will be played after the sun goes down on Jan. 25. The NHLs ice crews are putting down the foundation for the rink over the next few days, likely beginning the ice-making process Thursday. They will work entirely at night, gradually building up the ice sheet in colder temperatures while keeping it covered during the day. NHL ice specialist Dan Craig is intrigued by the challenge of a warm-weather game, but confident his crew will deliver a workable surface -- although he wont be getting much sleep over the next two weeks while working through the nights. Gretzky and Robitaille also arent worried. After all, they both remember the Kings outdoor exhibition game in 1991 in Las Vegas, where the biggest hitch was a grasshopper invasion of the ice. "People dont realize its like 65 degrees in a hockey arena," Gretzky said. "Its kind of warm. Its not that cold." ' ' '