By AP
Minneapolis, MInn – Kalin Lucas scored 22 points, Raymar Morgan added 17 and Michigan State (No. 7 ESPN/USA Today, No. 6 AP) rallied to beat shorthanded Minnesota 65-64 on Saturday in a game the Spartans never led until the final minutes.
The Spartans (17-3) have won eight straight and matched their best start in the Big Ten since also starting 7-0 during the 1977-78 season.
Lucas hit a 3-pointer with 1:27 left to break a 62-all tie, and Minnesota answered with a basket by Damien Johnson to trim the lead to one. The Gophers denied Chris Allen a runner on defense, grabbed possession and called timeout with 14.7 seconds left.
After setting up the play, Lawrence Westbrook unloaded in the lane with 3 seconds left. His contested shot came up short, and Blake Hoffarber's tip at the buzzer bounced off the backboard as the Spartans streamed off their bench and onto the court.