Spartans beat Minnesota to stay atop the Big ten

 Keith Appling and Brandon Wood both scored 13 points to key No. 6 Michigan State's 66-61 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday night, helping the Spartans keep their hold on first place in the Big Ten.

Draymond Green had 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals for the Spartans (23-5, 12-3), who won their sixth straight game in February. Green's only basket of the second half was a big one, a pump-fake layup that rolled on the rim and in to tie it at 58 with 1:40 left.

Austin Hollins scored 17 points on 4-for-6 shooting from 3-point range for the Gophers (17-11, 5-10), who led for more than 18 minutes of the second half until a flurry of late turnovers