In a game filled with big offensive and special teams plays, it took the LSU defense to finally break the Independence Bowl wide open Friday.
Gabe Northern's 37-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown put LSU up by 11 points with 9:20 left in the third quarter. Less than a minute later, Allen Stansberry's interception set up another score and the Tigers, in their first bowl game since 1988, went on to beat Michigan State 45-26.Freshman Kevin Faulk rushed for an Independence Bowl record 234 yards and scored two touchdowns. His 5-yard score on the second play of the third quarter gave LSU (7-4-1) the lead for good at 28-24.
Michigan State (6-5-1), like LSU completing its first year under a new coach, had seven turnovers. The two in the third quarter beat them.
Three plays after Stansberry's interception, true freshman quarterback Herb Tyler hit Eddie Kennison for a 27-yard TD play and the Tigers had extended the lead to 42-24.
Kennison also set an bowl record with an 92-yard kickoff return in the second quarter. He held the record only 13 seconds before Derrick Mason broke it with a 100-yard return as the two teams traded touchdowns twice in a 93-second span of the second quarter.
Scott Greene, one of four Michigan State starters who missed the first quarter as penalty for missing curfew this week, scored from 3 yards out on his first carry.
Greene's 17th TD of the season was set up by Carl Reaves' interception and 17-yard return on the first play of the second quarter.
Kennison took the ensuing kickoff at the 8, cut back right near the 30 and sped past kicker Chris Gardner's last chance attempt at a tackle to the end zone for a 14-13 LSU lead.
At the other end, as a football flew out of the stands beside him, Mason burst up ther middle for his 100-yard return and another record.
LSU tied it back up when two plays later when Faulk ran 51 yards for a touchdown, getting a downfield block from receiver Shaddrick Wilson.
Michigan State led 24-21 at halftime after Gardner kicked a 37-yard field goal with just one second left.
The game, sponsored by Poulan-Weed Eater, got off to a quick start. It was tied 7-7 after just three minutes.