Maryland Terrapins vs Michigan State Spartans Match Player Stats On Nov 14, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Nov 14, 2015

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Riley Bullough returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown late in the first half and No. 13 Michigan State overcame an injury to senior quarterback Connor Cook to defeat Maryland 24-7 on Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium.

The defensive score by the junior linebacker was one of five turnovers forced the Spartans as they bounced back from the previous week's 39-38, last-minute loss at Nebraska. Sophomore running back Gerald Holmes gained 83 yards on 18 carries and scored a second-half touchdown.

Cook, who holds the school record with 32 victories as its starting quarterback, sat out the second half after suffering an injury to his throwing arm.

Cook briefly left the game late in the first quarter after getting hit by Maryland sophomore defensive end Jesse Aniebonam on a pass attempt. He returned at the start of the second quarter but was clearly limited by the injury. Cook, who was on the sidelines wearing a headset after halftime, completed just six of 20 pass attempts for 77 yards and was intercepted once.

The Spartans (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten) face undefeated Ohio State next Saturday at Columbus.

Junior quarterback Perry Hills completed 14 of 30 passes for 140 yards for the Terrapins (2-8, 0-6), who have lost seven straight and remain winless under interim coach Mike Locksley.

The Spartans' offense managed just 149 total yards and committed two turnovers during the first half but three Maryland giveaways allowed them to take a 17-7 lead.

Michigan State struck first after senior defensive tackle Damon Knox recovered a fumble at midfield. Junior backup quarterback Tyler O'Connor tossed a 10-yard scoring pass to senior wide receiver Macgarrett Kings.

The Terrapins answered with a 10-play, 91-yard drive, capped by senior running back Brandon Ross' 1-yard run.

Bullough's interception with 2:07 remaining in the half put Michigan State on top. He stepped in front of junior wide receiver Malcolm Culmer and returned Hills' errant pass 44 yards down the right sideline.

Senior cornerback Arjen Colquhoun picked off junior backup quarterback Caleb Rowe on the Terrapins' next possession, setting up Michael Geiger's 35-yard field goal.

Holmes scored on a 3-yard run midway through the third quarter to make it 24-7.

NOTES: Michigan State WR Aaron Burbridge, the Big Ten's leading receiver, reached the 1,000-yard mark this season with a second-quarter catch. ... Maryland junior DE Yannick Ngakoue was credited with 1 1/2 sacks, giving him 12 1/2 on the season. He needs one more to break the school record of 13 sacks set by Mark Duda (1982) and Bruce Palmer (1978). ... The Spartans have won seven consecutive home games and 22 of their last 24 Big Ten contests. ... The teams hadn't played in East Lansing since 1950.