Michigan State Spartans

UNDATED (AP) — Minnesota is playing meaningful Big Ten games in November.

Michigan State all but locked up a spot in the Big Ten championship game, and the 16th-ranked Spartans didn't even need their nation-leading defense at its best to do it. With Nebraska turning over the ball five times and Connor Cook directing a game-breaking drive in the fourth quarter, the Spartans won 41-28 Saturday to take a two-game lead in the Legends Division with two games to play.

Gary Harris scored 15 points and Keith Appling added 14 points before leaving the game with an injury to help No. 12 Michigan State bounce back from a poor first half to beat No. 18 Minnesota 61-50 Wednesday night.

EAST LANSING, Mich. - 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.

Andre Hollins had 22 points and six assists and Rodney Williams added 15 points and six rebounds to lift No. 9 Minnesota to a 76-63 victory over No. 18 Michigan State on Monday. It was an emphatic victory for the Golden Gophers over a team that has owned them for years.

Nebraska took advantage of a Michigan State penalty, beating the Spartans 28-24 when Taylor Martinez threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jamal Turner with 6 seconds left Saturday night.

Mark Weisman ran for 116 yards and scored a tying touchdown in the final minute of regulation, and Iowa went on to beat Michigan State 19-16 in double overtime Saturday.