UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (AP) — A.J. Hoggard scored a career-high 23 points, Joey Hauser had 12 points and 15 rebounds and Michigan State beat Penn State 67-58 on Wednesday night to snap a two-game losing streak.
Michigan State (6-4, 1-1 Big Ten) avoided going .500 or worse after 10 games for the first time in 18 seasons.
Hoggard blocked an open layup with less than a minute to play and Hauser grabbed the rebound before being fouled and making two free throws at the other end for a 66-58 lead.
Hoggard, Hauser and Tyson Walker combined for 31 of Michigan State’s 32 second-half points.
The Michigan State defense allowed only one made field goal in the final five minutes. Penn State was just 1 of 9 from 3-point range in the second half after 7 of 18 before halftime.
Walker scored 10 of his 14 points in the second half for Michigan State. Hoggard, who entered third in the conference in assists at 6.3, had six rebounds, two assists and one key block.
Hoggard gave Michigan State 35-33 lead — its first since 4-2 — after back-to-back three-point plays with 59.3 seconds left in the first half. It was tied at 35-all at the break.
Seth Lundy scored 16 points and Jalen Pickett had 13 points, 17 rebounds and eight assists for Penn State (6-3, 0-1)
Michigan State hosts Brown on Saturday. Penn State, which hadn't played since a double-overtime loss to Clemson on Nov. 29, plays at No. 17 Illinois on Saturday.
