Top-ranked Michigan State takes down Gophers

MINNEAPOLIS – Guard Bryn Forbes led the way with 20 points on 7 of 17 shooting as top-ranked Michigan State bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 69-61 men’s basketball victory over Minnesota on Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans (14-1, 1-1 Big Ten) took advantage of cold shooting by the Golden Gophers to open up a double-digit lead in the second half and held off their late rally. Forward Matt Costello added 17 points and 15 rebounds for Michigan State, which will likely lose the No. 1 ranking Monday after falling at Iowa earlier in the week.
Guard Nate Mason paced Minnesota (6-8, 0-2) with 16 points as the Golden Gophers lost for the sixth time in seven games. Minnesota missed 10 straight shots from the field in the second half as the Spartans turned a one-point lead into a 53-43 lead with 9:39 remaining.
Forward Joey King scored seven points late for the Golden Gophers, helping whittle Michigan State’s lead to 63-61 with two minutes to play. The Spartans scored the final six points, including four free throws in the final 30 seconds.
Michigan State led 32-29 at halftime, getting seven first-half points apiece from Forbes and Costello. Forbes had the hot hand early, scoring seven of the Spartans’ first nine points.
Minnesota freshman guard Kevin Dorsey Jr. hit a 3-pointer at the first-half buzzer to pull the Golden Gophers within three at the break. Freshman forward Jordan Murphy finished with 14 points for Minnesota.
It was the second consecutive big game and the sixth time in double figures for Costello, who scored 17 against Iowa.
MICHIGAN ST (69): Costello 5-11 7-9 17, Schilling 3-4 2-2 8, E.Harris 3-7 4-4 10, B.Forbes 7-17 2-2 20, Nairn Jr 2-4 0-0 4, McQuaid 0-2 0-0 0, Dy.Davis 4-4 2-3 10, Goins 0-0 0-0 0, Ellis III 0-0 0-0 0, J.Bess 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-49 17-20 69.
MINNESOTA (61): Konate 3-4 0-0 6, J.Murphy 7-18 0-4 14, Jo.King 1-6 4-4 7, N.Mason 5-17 3-4 16, C.Morris 2-8 3-4 7, K.Dorsey 4-9 2-3 11, McBrayer 0-3 0-0 0, Diedhiou 0-0 0-0 0, A.Gilbert 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-65 12-19 61.
Michigan St 32 37 - 69
Minnesota 29 32 - 61
3-Point Goals: Michigan St 4-13 (B.Forbes 4-9, E.Harris 0-2, McQuaid 0-2), Minnesota 5-20 (N.Mason 3-7, K.Dorsey 1-4, Jo.King 1-4, McBrayer 0-1, C.Morris 0-2, J.Murphy 0-2). Fouled out: Jo.King. Rebounds: Michigan St 41 (Costello 15), Minnesota 29 (J.Murphy 9). Assists: Michigan St 16 (Nairn Jr 7), Minnesota 11 (Jo.King, N.Mason 3). Total Fouls: Michigan St 21 (Costello 4), Minnesota 21 (Jo.King 5). A-NA.