PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — Jeremy Fears scored 29 points as Michigan State outlasted Rutgers 88-79 in overtime Tuesday night at a sold-out Louis Brown Athletic Center.

The Spartans (19-2, 8-1 Big Ten) trailed by nine at halftime but surged with a 45-point second half to force the extra period, where they dominated 15-6. Fears added nine assists in 35 minutes for Michigan State, which won its fourth straight.

Tariq Francis led the Scarlet Knights (9-12, 2-7) with 23 points. Rutgers led 37-28 at halftime but could not hold off the Spartans’ rally in front of 8,000 fans. Jamichael Davis added 15 points and five assists in the loss.