No. 10 Michigan State tops Nebraska 79-67 for 8th win in row

Updated Jan. 5, 2022 9:05 p.m. ET

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EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Freshman Max Christie scored a season-high 21 points and Gabe Brown added 14 to help

The Spartans (13-2, 4-0 Big Ten) led by just four points at halftime because they turned the ball over 12 times.

Michigan State made three 3-pointers early in the second half to go ahead 47-39 and maintained the lead because it took better care of the basketball, finishing with 19 turnovers.

The Cornhuskers (6-9, 0-4) started strong, leading 17-12 and by a point late in the first half and didn't allow the Spartans to pull away until late in the second half.

Nebraska's Derrick Walker scored 16, Bryce McGowens and Kobe Webster scored 13 apiece and C.J. Wilcher added 10 points.

Malik Hall scored 12 and Tyson Walker had 10 points and for the Spartans, whose losses this season were against No. 1 Baylor and No. 6 Kansas.

PANDEMIC PLAY

Michigan State hosted its first game with a requirement that all spectators provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the tipoff.

The new policy may have been a factor that kept some people away because there were a lot of empty seats and some upper-section rows without fans at the Breslin Center.

BIG PICTURE

Nebraska: The program has lost 20 straight games to ranked teams, dating to the Huskers' win over No. 21 Maryland in the 2019 Big Ten tournament.

Michigan State: If Tom Izzo's team can figure out how to cut down on its turnovers, it has a shot to win the Big Ten and to perhaps make a run in the NCAA Tournament.

UP NEXT

Nebraska: Stays on the road to play at Rutgers (8-5, 2-1) on Saturday afternoon.

Michigan State: Plays

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

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Derrick Walker

Malik Hall

Nebraska Cornhuskers

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