No. 18 Michigan State uses late run to beat Nebraska

Derrick Nix made two free throws with a minute left and finished with 17 points to help No. 22 Michigan State pull away for a 66-56 victory over Nebraska on Sunday night. The Spartans (14-3, 3-1 Big Ten) have won three straight and kept the Cornhuskers (9-8, 0-4) from winning their first conference game this season.

Nebraska’s David Rivers had 18 points, Dylan Talley scored 17 and Ray Gallegos added 12 points.

Spartans reserve Adreian Payne scored 14 points and Branden Dawson had 12 points.

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Branden Dawson slam down alley-oop to end game:

Derrick Nix gets athletic layup:

Adreian Payne throws down powerful putback:

Branden Dawson soars for alley-oop:

Branden Dawson comes from behind, swats layup:

FINAL: No. 18 Michigan State and Nebraska were tightly matched on Sunday at Jack Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing, but the Spartans pulled out a 66-56 victory. There were 12 lead changes in the game. David Rivers was a bright spot for Nebraska (9-8) in the loss with 18 points, six rebounds, and 8-of-8 shooting from the field. Derrick Nix sparked Michigan State (14-3), as he scored 17 points, grabbed five rebounds, and knocked down 6-of-9 shot attempts for the Spartans in the game. Adreian Payne was 6-of-6 from the floor and chipped in 14 points for Michigan State.

HALFTIME: Neither No. 18 Michigan State nor Nebraska managed to take complete advantage in the first half of a back-and-forth game that goes into the break tied at 32. The lead was exchanged seven times in the first 20 minutes. Nebraska put the clamps on Michigan State’s three-point game (1-of-6, 17 percent), while the Spartans shot 67 percent in the first half on two-point field goals. Nebraska’s David Rivers scored 12 points to pace all scorers, while Shavon Shields chipped in with nine. Michigan State’s Branden Dawson scored 10 points, and Adreian Payne added nine, on a perfect 4-of-4 performance from the field.

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