COL BKB: Michigan State 83, Purdue 58

EAST LANSING, Mich., Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Branden Dawson and Derrick Nix teamed up for 26 points Saturday and No. 9 Michigan State prevailed over Purdue 83-58 in a Big Ten contest.

Dawson netted 16 points, Nix added 12 and Austin Thornton chipped in with 11 for the Spartans (16-4, 5-2 Big Ten), who shook off a pair of losses to Northwestern and Michigan coming into the game.

Keith Appling scored 10 as Michigan State used a tough defense in the first half to limit the Boilermakers to just 25 percent shooting from the floor.

Purdue (14-6, 4-3) went 1-for-9 from 3-point territory and got just two points from leading scorer Robbie Hummel in the loss.