Michigan State outlasts Minnesota in OT
EAST LANSING Mich. -- Point guard Keith Appling scored 24 points, including eight in overtime, as No. 5 Michigan State defeated the Minnesota, 87-75, in a Big Ten game on Saturday at Breslin Center.
The Spartans (15-1 overall, 4-0), who have won 15 straight home games against the Gophers, stretched their winning streak to eight games.
Guard Gary Harris had 19 points and redshirt freshman forward Kenny Kaminski scored a career-high 15 points, all on 3-pointers, for the Spartans.
Michigan State center Adreian Payne, who is averaging 16.2 points and 7.7 rebounds, missed the game because of a sprained right foot.
Guard Andre Hollins led the Gophers (13-4, 2-2) with 24 points and reserve guard Malik Smith added 17.
The Spartans dominated in overtime after squandering a five-point lead in the closing seconds of regulation. Michigan State scored the first nine points, while Minnesota committed three turnovers during the overtime session.
The Spartans trailed, 53-43, before reeling off 15 unanswered points.
Guard Keith Appling made two free throws to put Michigan State in front and forward Branden Dawson finished off the outburst with a tip-in for a 58-53 advantage with 8:26 remaining.
Minnesota, which failed to make a field goal for a 13:26 stretch during the second half., scored the next six points on free throws and the game remained tight the rest of the way.
Dunks by Dawson and center Matt Costello sparked a 9-2 Spartans run to make it 67-61.
With Michigan State up, 71-66, in the final minute, Smith cut it to two with a 3-pointer. Harris then missed two free throws, allowing Gophers guard DeAndre Mathieu to tie it on a layup with 1.7 seconds left.
The Gophers made 7-of-12 3-point shots in the first half to take a 41-36 halftime lead. Kaminski kept the Spartans close with four 3-pointers.
NOTES: Minnesota's last victory at the Breslin Center was a 68-43 win on Jan. 4, 1997. The Spartans have won 18 of the last 21 meetings. The teams will not face each other again this season. ... Michigan State has won 89 percent of its home games under coach Tom Izzo. ... Minnesota leads the Big Ten in steals with 8.4 per game and free throw percentage, 75.3. ... Minnesota is 22-2 when committing fewer turnovers than its opponent over the last two seasons. ... Michigan State has never lost a home game on Jan. 11. It has a 17-0 record on that date, dating to 1908. ... The Gophers faced only one other ranked team this season, losing to then No. 8 Syracuse in the Maui Invitational, 75-67.
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