Buckeyes stumble at Michigan State

Michigan State finished the game with a 20-2 run, beating visiting Ohio State, 62-44. The Buckeyes (16-9, 6-8) led by six at the break but shot 4 of 21 from the field the rest of the way.

EAST LANSING, MICH. >> Tom Izzo wants his team to be able to win in a variety of ways. On Feb. 17, the Michigan State coach lost his standout big man to an injury — and the Spartans still rolled.

“Defense not only travels — sometimes it works at home too,” Izzo said.

Kenny Goins had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 11 Michigan State finished the game with a 20-2 run, beating Ohio State, 6244. Matt McQuaid scored 14 points for the Spartans and Cassius Winston added 13. Michigan State won despite an injury to Nick Ward, who hardly played in the second half and appeared to have a wrap on one of his hands.

“He might’ve dislocated a finger or something here,” Izzo said. “I won’t know until they go through all the medical procedures what that is, but it was a problem for us the second half.”

Michigan State (21-5, 123) pulled into a first-place tie with rival Michigan atop the Big Ten, holding Ohio State to 13 points in the second half. The Buckeyes (16-9, 6-8) led by six at the break but shot 4 of 21 from the field the rest of the way.

“It was all on defense,” McQuaid said. “We weren’t getting clean rebounds in the first half. We did a better job in the second of securing the ball and running.”

It was tied at 42 when Michigan State’s Kyle Ahrens sank a 3-pointer that started a 10-0 run.

Kaleb Wesson scored 12 points for Ohio State, but he failed to take advantage of Ward’s absence and foul trouble to Michigan State’s Xavier Tillman.

AL GOLDIS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Michigan State’s Cassius Winston, left, drives against Ohio State’s Kaleb Wesson during the first half Feb. 17.