EAST LANSING - Branden Dawson was guilty of taking his foot off the accelerator during a Jan. 31 victory over Illinois.

The sophomore forward finished that game with 12 points and nine rebounds. But the box score didn't show Dawson's lack of focus and energy during a first half in which the Fighting Illini outscored Michigan State 37-27.

"We didn't play well in that first half against Illinois, and I deserved a lot of the blame," said Dawson, who issued an apology to his teammates in the locker room following Michigan State's 80-75 victory over the Fighting Illini.

The powerful 6-foot-6, 230-pound sophomore is determined to avoid a similar scenario at Nebraska on Saturday in a game sandwiched between an emotional victory over rival Michigan last Tuesday and next Tuesday's showdown with No. 1 Indiana.

"Against Nebraska, as far as for myself and for the team, we just have to come out and play hard," Dawson said. "We have to come out with that mindset, and just stay focused."



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