EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The Harlem Globetrotters, with help

from Magic Johnson, beat Michigan State 97-83 in an exhibition

Sunday and stretched their winning streak to 283 games.

Behind 38 points from former UCLA guard Darrick Martin,

including 18 in the last 6½ minutes, the Globetrotters avenged a

72-68 loss to the Spartans in November 2000 that snapped a

1,270-game win string.

Paul Davis had 19 points to lead Michigan State. But the Spartans' main highlight focused on the return of Johnson and a weekend reunion of the 1979 NCAA champions.

With college and pro rival and close friend Larry Bird on hand

as the Globetrotters' honorary coach, Johnson was 2-for-3 and had

five points and four assists in 16 minutes.

After Saturday's dedication of a 12-foot statue -- "Always A

Champion" -- outside Breslin Center, Johnson joined former coach

Jud Heathcote and his teammates from 25 years ago for a

celebration.

On Sunday, Johnson signed just the second lifetime contract in

Globetrotters history, joining Bill Cosby as $1-for-life employees,

and finalized plans to complete his degree in communications from

Michigan State in 2005.