EAST LANSING, Mich., Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Draymond Green and Keith Appling helped No. 8 Michigan State overcome a slow start Thursday, sending the Spartans to a 69-55 win over No. 17 Wisconsin.
Michigan State scored the game's first six points, but then managed only four more over a span of 8 minutes, while Wisconsin was moving in front. The teams were tied with 8:30 to play in the opening half, but the Spartans closed the period on a 19-7 run and maintained control throughout the final 20 minutes.
Both Green and Appling had 20 points. The Spartans (21-5, 10-3 Big Ten Conference) are tied with Ohio State atop the conference standings. Derrick Nix added 12 points for Michigan State, winner of all 16 of its home games this season.
Wisconsin (19-7, 8-5), which has lost two of its last three, got 17 points from Ryan Evans and 13 from Jordan Taylor.
