Denver, CO -- (Sports Network) - Raymar Morgan scored 15 points and Chris Allen added 12, as Michigan State used a big first-half run to earn a 72-61 victory over Temple in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Pepsi Center.

Drew Naymick chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds for the Spartans (26-8), who are the fifth seed in the South Region and will next meet Pittsburgh, an 82-63 winner over Oral Roberts, in the second round on Saturday. Michigan State, playing in the NCAA Tournament for the 11th straight year, was last a fifth seed in 2005 and reached the Final Four before a loss to eventual champion North Carolina.

The Spartans got only five points from second-leading scorer Drew Neitzel, but a stifling defense held the Owls to just 37.5 percent from the field. Temple leading scorer Dionte Christmas made only 1-of-12 shots for three points, well below his season average of 20.3.

"If nobody else picks it up, we all lose," said Morgan about the team's balanced performance. "It was an overall team effort."

Mark Tyndale scored 16 for Temple (21-13), which had won seven straight games and captured the Atlantic 10 Tournament title to earn its first NCAA bid since 2001. The Owls were also eliminated from that tournament by Michigan State in the South Regional final.

The Spartans took control midway through the first half with a 15-2 run. Seven different players scored for Michigan State during the burst and a dunk by Idong Ibok gave the Spartans a 30-17 lead with just under three minutes to play in the opening half.

Ryan Brooks then scored eight straight Temple points, as the Owls managed to pull within 35-26 at the break. Brooks had 10 first-half points for Temple, but Christmas did not score during the opening 20 minutes and Tyndale had just two.

"Michigan State did a good job of defending me," said Christmas. "They were very physical. That was one of the most physical teams I played against."

The Owls made just 8-of-27 shots in the first half, connecting on only 3-of-12 from three-point range. The Spartans made 48.3 percent of their shots in the first half, despite a 1-of-6 effort from Neitzel.

Michigan State kicked off the second half with seven straight points to open a 42-26 cushion and Temple didn't threaten until late.

The Spartans led by as many as 19 after a Naymick dunk and it was still an 18- point cushion after a bucket by Allen with just over six minutes to play, but Temple clawed back with eight straight points. Tyndale scored four of those points, including a layup with 3:44 remaining that made it a 64-54 game.

Michigan State followed with six of the next eight to stem the momentum and cruised to the finish.

"It comes down to the little things," said Neitzel. "Every possession matters."

Game Notes

Neitzel made only 2-of-11 shots, including a 1-for-8 effort from three-point range...Kalin Lucas scored eight points and dished out seven assists in the victory...Brooks finished with 14 points in defeat, while Lavoy Allen added 13 with 11 rebounds...Michigan State held a 37-29 edge on the boards...The all- time series is even at 6-6.