Michigan State-ment: Spartans throttle 16th-ranked Wisconsin

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Nick Ward made the most of his limited time on the court.

Ward had 22 points and nine rebounds despite playing just 19 minutes because of foul trouble, helping Michigan State beat No. 16 Wisconsin 84-74 on Sunday.

Miles Bridges scored 17 points and Matt McQuaid a season-high 15 as the Spartans (18-11, 10-6 Big Ten) won for the sixth time in eight games, moving into a third-place tie in the conference and perhaps sealing their spot in a 20th straight NCAA Tournament.

“We put ourselves in a position where I can look in the mirror and say we deserve some things,” coach Tom Izzo said.

The Badgers (22-7, 11-5) have lost four of five and lost a chance to pull into a first-place tie with No. 14 Purdue.

Nigel Hayes scored 22 points, Bronson Koenig 17 and Zak Showalter 15 for Wisconsin. COLLEGE BASKETBALL

■ No. 7 Louisville 88, Syracuse 68 — At Louisville, Ky., Donovan Mitchell hit six 3-pointers and totaled 25 points for the Cardinals (23-6, 11-5 Atlantic Coast Conference), who shot 57 percent in their rout of the Orange (1713, 9-8).

■ Central Florida 53, No. 15 Cincinnati 49 — At Orlando, Fla., B.J. Taylor scored 27 points for the Knights (19-10, 10-7 American Athletic Conference), who downed the Bearcats (25-4, 14-2) for the first time in nine meetings.

■ No. 21 Notre Dame 64, Georgia Tech 60 — At South Bend, Ind., Bonzie Colson had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Fighting Irish (22-7, 11-5 ACC), who topped the Yellow Jackets (1613, 7-9) for their fifth straight win.

■ No. 22 Butler 88, Xavier 79 — At Cincinnati, Kelan Martin scored 25 points for the Bulldogs (23-6, 12-5 Big East), who dealt the Musketeers (18-11, 8-8) their fifth straight loss — their deepest slump in 35 years.