EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — Michigan State held off a second-half surge from Rutgers to secure a 91-87 victory in a Big Ten Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Breslin Events Center. The Spartans improved to 25-5 overall, while the Scarlet Knights fell to 12-18.

Jeremy Fears led Michigan State with 21 points and eight assists. Coen Carr also scored 21 points. Rutgers’ Tariq Francis scored a game-high 25 points. The Spartans were efficient from the floor, shooting 58.5%, and capitalized at the free-throw line, making 25 of 30 attempts. Rutgers stayed close by hitting 10 of 18 from 3-point range and forcing 15 turnovers. A crowd of 14,797 saw the teams combine for 178 points in an offensive contest.