By Larry Lage
The Associated Press

Syracuse's Hakim Warrick, right, dunks on Michigan State's Adam Ballinger. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Carmelo Anthony lived up to the billing, and so did his teammates. Anthony had 25 points and seven rebounds as No. 15 Syracuse held on to beat Michigan State 76-75 on Sunday.

Fifteen 15 NBA scouts were in attendance, all likely focusing on the Orangemen's phenomenal freshman.

"They tried everything," Anthony said of the Spartans. "They sent two or three people at me. Sometimes they sent the whole team at me. It ain't working, that's all I've got to say."

Anthony was shooting 33.7 percent from 3-point range entering the game, but he made all five of his shots from behind the arc and was 8-of-15 overall.

"When he's shooting the ball well from the outside, he's not guardable," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "I don't think anybody, or any two guys, can guard him when he's shooting well from the outside."

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo was impressed with Anthony after watching him on tape. He gained even more respect for the 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward by seeing him in person.

"He's as good as I've seen at doing a lot of things," Izzo said. "And he does it with class. He doesn't do a lot of talking, he just plays. I was impressed with his play, his toughness and his coolness.

"There are a lot of great things about Carmelo Anthony."

The same is true with Syracuse, which has won six of seven.

After beginning the season unranked, the Orangemen joined the Top 25 for the first time Jan. 26, and are quickly rising.

The Spartans were No. 9 in the preseason poll, but have plummeted out of the rankings and are in danger of not making the NCAA tournament.

Michigan State (14-11) has lost two of three after winning three straight, including two of its four wins against ranked teams.

Izzo believes the Spartans, whose best win was at then-No. 12 Kentucky two months ago, need at least 17 victories to advance to a sixth straight NCAA tournament. The 2000 national champions play three of their last four games at home, before the Big Ten tournament.

"It has been the hardest year since I've been here from an injury standpoint," Izzo said. "But I would be devastated if we didn't make the tournament because I think we can be a good team."

Michigan State had three chances to add a quality win to its resume in the final six seconds against Syracuse. The Orangemen led 76-75 when Kelvin Torbert hit the rim on a short side jumper, Adam Ballinger missed on a tap and Alan Anderson misfired from the lane after grabbing a loose ball.

"It was a great game and it was fun to be a part of it," Boeheim said of an NCAA tournament-type game that had 12 lead changes and 11 ties. "It would not have been too fun to lose it."

Michigan State's Chris Hill scored a career-high 34 points, including a Big Ten-record 10 3-pointers.

"I'd give back all those 3-pointers for a win," Hill said.

Michigan State sold out the Breslin Center for an 80th straight time, and lost for just the fifth time during a stretch that began in 1998.

"It was a great atmosphere and a terrific basketball game," Boeheim said.

Hakim Warrick scored 17 points for the Orangemen, while Kueth Duany and Billy Edelin each added 10.

Michigan State's Aloysius Anagonye had 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while reserve Paul Davis added 10 points.