EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — Michigan State overcame a seven-point halftime deficit to defeat Northwestern 76-66 in a Big Ten men’s basketball game Thursday night at Breslin Center. The Spartans, trailing 35-28 at the break, dominated the second half with a 48-31 scoring run. Nick Martinelli led all scorers with 28 points for Northwestern. Carson Cooper paced Michigan State with 18 points. The Wildcats capitalized on 12 Spartan turnovers but were hindered by 37.9% shooting from the field. Michigan State improved to 14-2 overall, while Northwestern fell to 8-7.

EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — A dominant second-half surge, fueled by a decisive rebounding advantage and relentless interior scoring, propelled Michigan State to a 76-66 victory over Northwestern in a Big Ten men’s basketball game Thursday night at a sold-out Breslin Center. The Spartans, improving to 14-2 overall, overcame a sluggish first half by outscoring the Wildcats 48-31 after halftime. Northwestern, which led 35-28 at the break, fell to 8-7. The game’s pivotal shift came early in the second period. After trading baskets to start, Michigan State unleashed a 15-4 run over a five-minute span to turn a three-point deficit into a 52-43 lead with 11:29 remaining. The Spartans’ physicality and efficiency inside were the catalysts. They scored 32 points in the paint for the game, with 22 coming in the second half, and capitalized on a massive 44-28 rebounding edge, including 11 offensive boards that led to 13 second-chance points. Northwestern, which had controlled the tempo early behind the play of Nick Martinelli, could not counter the Spartan onslaught. The Wildcats shot just 37.9% from the field for the game and a frigid 23.1% from three-point range. Their offensive rating of 99.2 on 66 possessions paled in comparison to Michigan State’s mark of 115.7 on an identical number of trips. Martinelli, a junior forward from Glenview, Illinois, was a bright spot for Northwestern, scoring a game-high 28 points on 9-of-18 shooting and adding eight rebounds in 38 minutes. Point guard Jayden Reid facilitated the offense with eight assists, but the Wildcats’ attack grew stagnant as Michigan State tightened its defense, forcing six second-half turnovers and limiting clean looks. Michigan State’s victory was a collective effort, with four players scoring in double figures. Center Carson Cooper, a 6-foot-11 junior from Jackson, Michigan, was a force in the lane, posting 18 points and 10 rebounds. Guards Jeremy Fears and Jaxon Kohler each added 15 points, with Fears dishing out five assists. Kohler’s floor-spacing ability was key, as he hit three of Michigan State’s five three-pointers. The Spartans also excelled at drawing fouls and converting at the line, attempting 33 free throws and making 23. Northwestern was more efficient but less frequent, going 16 for 20 from the stripe. Northwestern built its first-half lead through active defense, generating nine steals and turning 12 Michigan State turnovers into 17 points. A late steal and layup by Reid just before the halftime buzzer gave the Wildcats their seven-point cushion and momentum. However, that momentum evaporated quickly after intermission as Michigan State solved the Wildcats’ pressure, committing only three turnovers in the second half. The loss extends a challenging stretch for Northwestern, which has now dropped three of its last four games. Michigan State, meanwhile, rebounds from its only conference loss of the season at Nebraska and reaffirms its status as a Big Ten contender. According to pregame analytics from National Statistical, Michigan State was projected with a 94.8% probability to win and was installed as a 12.5-point favorite. The combined point total of 142 fell just under the over/under line of 143. Northwestern travels to face Rutgers on Sunday. Michigan State’s next contest is at home against Indiana on Tuesday.

Preview: Northwestern Wildcats at Michigan State Spartans EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — The surging Michigan State Spartans host the Northwestern Wildcats in a Big Ten Conference men’s basketball matchup Thursday at Breslin Center. Michigan State (13-2, 1-1 Big Ten) enters on the heels of a dominant 80-51 nonconference victory over Southern California on Monday. The Spartans’ only losses this season are by two points at Nebraska and to then-Duke. Northwestern (8-6, 0-1) looks to rebound from a 78-84 home loss to Minnesota last Saturday, which snapped a three-game winning streak. The Wildcats are 0-2 in true road games this season. The Spartans are led by forward Jaxon Kohler, who is averaging 14.2 points over his last five games. He recorded a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds in a win over Oakland on Dec. 20. Michigan State’s defense has been stifling, holding opponents to an average of 58.7 points during its current four-game homestand. The Wildcats will rely on the hot hand of forward Nick Martinelli, who has scored 22 or more points in four consecutive games. He is averaging 27.3 points over that stretch, including a 32-point performance in a win over Howard on Dec. 30. In the loss to Minnesota, Martinelli scored 26 points and grabbed six rebounds. Northwestern’s offense, averaging 78.6 points per game, will face its toughest test yet against a Michigan State squad allowing just 61.5 points per contest. The Wildcats have shown resilience in close games, with four of their six losses coming by single digits. Michigan State holds a significant historical advantage in the series and has won the last five meetings. The Spartans have not lost to Northwestern at home since 2009. Thursday’s game tips off at 9 p.m. EST and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.