No. 10 Michigan State 85, Northwestern 70: Adreian Payne recorded 20 points and 14 rebounds as the short-handed Spartans rolled past the visiting Wildcats.

Michigan State (21-4, 10-2 Big Ten), which had lost three of its last five, placed four players in double figures, led by Payne and Denzel Valentine (16 points). Gary Harris chipped in 14 points and Travis Trice had 11 for the Spartans, who continued to play without standout guard Keith Appling (wrist) and starting forward Branden Dawson (hand).

JerShon Cobb scored 22 points and Drew Crawford added 18 points and seven assists for the Wildcats (12-13, 5-7), who only received points from five different players. Cobb made 5-of-11 3-pointers and also had a team-high seven rebounds while Tre Demps chipped in 18 points off the bench.

The game was close throughout most of the first half until back-to-back 3-pointers by Trice and Valentine helped Michigan State open up a 39-30 edge at the break. Early in the second half, Cobb scored 10 straight Northwestern points - including three 3-pointers - in less than 1 1/2 minutes, but the Wildcats barely made a dent as the Spartans received consecutive 3-pointers from Payne, Trice and then Payne again.

Michigan State eliminated any potential drama down the stretch with a 7-0 run to expand its lead to 65-46 with just under 12 minutes remaining. The Spartans cruised down the stretch and finished with their highest point total since an 87-75 overtime win over Minnesota on Jan. 11.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Michigan State finished 11-of-21 from behind the arc, with Valentine (3-of-3) and Trice (3-of-6) leading the way. ... The Spartans dominated the glass, 37-24. ... Trice and Valentine each had six assists and Michigan State nearly had as many assists (22) as Northwestern had field goals (24).