Michigan State Beats Rutgers 71-51

By TOM CANAVAN/AP Sports Writer

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) - Brenden Dawson had 17 points and 11 rebounds and Michigan State used a 20-2 run to start the second half to roll over Rutgers 71-51 on Thursday night in a game that was postponed earlier in the week by the threat of a blizzard in New Jersey.

Bryn Forbes added 18 points as the Spartans (14-7, 5-3 Big Ten) shot 51 percent from the field, limited Rutgers to 29 percent shooting and led almost every second of the game. Travis Trice added 10 points and five assists before leaving late in the game, seemingly favoring his left arm.

Kadeem Jack had 17 points to lead Rutgers (10-11, 2-7) which has lost five in a row since beating Wisconsin earlier this month.

Michigan State, which had lost two of its last three games, blew this one open at the start of the second half. Dawson started a run of 18 straight points with a three-point play and Forbes added a 3-point shot after Matt Costello made a layup, giving Michigan State a 52-36 lead. The margin grew to 62-36 before Rutgers made another basket.

One of the keys to the Spartans' win was their ability to limit Rutgers leading scorer Myles Mack (14.4) to seven points. He had a hard time getting shots, taking just 10 in the contest.

Dawson, who now has five double-doubles in Big Ten play, dominated early in the paint, scoring eight points and helping Michigan State take a 16-8 lead. Rutgers never got closer than four points the rest of the half.

Michigan State hit 8 of 20 form 3-point range, including four by Forbes.

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TIP-INS

Michigan State: Brenden Dawson got called for a flagrant 1 foul in the first half for pushing Rutgers forward Junior Etou away from the play. No foul was called immediately and replays seemed to indicate Etou took a dive. However, Dawson got the flagrant after the officials reviewed the videotape.

Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights finished 16 of 55 from the floor and 4 of 14 from long range.

UP NEXT

Michigan State: hosts Michigan on Sunday.