STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (Interstat) — Michigan State held off a late challenge from Penn State to secure a 76-72 victory in a Big Ten men’s basketball game Saturday at Bryce Jordan Center. The Spartans improved to 9-1 while the Nittany Lions fell to 8-3.

Divine Ugochukwu led all scorers with 23 points for Michigan State, which led 36-39 at halftime. Penn State’s Freddie Dilione V also scored 23 points. The Nittany Lions capitalized on turnovers, scoring 23 points off them compared to just four for the Spartans, but could not complete the comeback in front of 7,091 fans. Jeremy Fears added nine assists for Michigan State.