MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - With Laurence Maroney, the Big Ten's leading rusher, stuck on the sideline Saturday, backup running backs Amir Pinnix and Gary Russell led Minnesota to a 41-18 victory over fading Michigan State.
Maroney, whose 1,345 yards were best in the conference coming into this game, went through warmups for the Gophers (7-3, 4-3) _ but stood and watched all afternoon without his shoulder pads on while Pinnix and Russell wore down the Spartans (5-5, 2-5).
Russell started at tailback and gained 85 yards on 19 carries and ran for two touchdowns, playing only in the first half. Pinnix rushed 32 times for 206 yards _ both career highs _ and had a fourth-quarter score. Bryan Cupito was 8-of-13 for 123 yards with no interceptions and touchdown passes to Matt Spaeth and Ernie Wheelwright.
Drew Stanton went 29-for-46 for 312 yards and fourth-quarter touchdown passes to Dwayne Holmes and Terry Love for Michigan State, which was once ranked as high as 11th in the AP poll but lost for the fifth time in six games.
The Gophers lead the nation in rushing, and their offensive line _ led by four-year starters Greg Eslinger and Mark Setterstrom _ is just as responsible for that as Maroney.
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The ground game didn't miss a beat with Russell, who moved within 33 yards of 1,000 for the season, which would make Minnesota the first team in major college history to have two runners reach that milestone for three straight years. Maroney accomplished it with Marion Barber III the past two seasons.
Russell, who also had 68 yards receiving, was leveled by Spartans strong safety Eric Smith while trying to catch a pass up the seam late in the second quarter. He was woozy when he got up, stumbled off the field and missed nine plays before returning and polishing off an 18-play, 80-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge.
That was Russell's 17th rushing touchdown this year, tying him with Barber for the school record.
Also a sophomore, Pinnix picked it up from there and carried 25 times in the second half _ accounting for all but six of the Gophers' offensive plays. They held the ball for nearly 36 1/2 of the game's 60 minutes and converted 14 of 17 third-down situations.
After losing 44-38 and 51-17 to Michigan State the last two seasons, they finally figured out how to defend Stanton. But the Spartans helped out, dropping six passes in the first half and committing two untimely penalties.
Already assured of a bowl game, Minnesota visits Iowa next week to close the regular season. Michigan State, however, needs to beat No. 6 Penn State to be eligible for postseason play.
