EAST LANSING, Mich.-Freshman forward Miles Bridges scored all of his game-high 16 points by halftime and Michigan State defeated No. 24 Minnesota for the second time this season, 65-47, on Wednesday at the Breslin Center.
Playing in his third game since an ankle injury sidelined him for seven games, Bridges also grabbed six rebounds. Fellow freshman Joshua Langford had 13 points for the Spartans (12-6 overall, 4-1 Big Ten), who bounced back from a road loss to Penn State on Saturday. The Spartans recorded a 75-74 overtime road win over Minnesota on Dec. 27.
Michigan State freshman center Nick Ward added nine points and eight rebounds before fouling out.
Minnesota junior guard Nate Mason scored all 14 of his points in the second half. Sophomore guard Dupree McBrayer had 11 points for the Golden Gophers (15-3, 3-2), who entered the rankings this week for the first time in nearly four seasons.
Minnesota, which never led, had not scored fewer than 56 points this season.
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The Gophers went scoreless in the last 5:30 of the first half as Michigan State opened up a 39-17 lead. The Spartans finished the half on a 15-0 run, led by the revived Bridges, while holding theGophers to a season halftime low by a Spartans opponent.
The freshman forward got into an early rhythm by dropping in three baskets in the first four-plus minutes. Langford's baseline jumper gave the Spartans a double-digit advantage at 24-13 with seven minutes left in the half.
Bridges fired in back-to-back threes during the late outburst and finished off a personal 8-0 run with two free throws. Layups by Eron Harris and Langford completed the Spartans' dominant half.
Michigan State's lead was still 52-30 midway through the second half.
NOTES: The Spartans has won 22 of the last 26 meetings. ... Minnesota C Reggie Lynch led the Big Ten in blocks at 3.2 per game entering the game. He had just one before fouling out in 17 minutes. ... The last time the Gophers were ranked was Feb. 4, 2013, when they were 18th in the poll. ... Michigan State has used eight lineups this season with 10 players starting at least four games. ... The Spartans play their next two games on the road-Sunday at Ohio State and Saturday, Jan. 21 against Indiana.
