EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Derrick Nix had 25 points and 11 rebounds to help No. 20 Michigan State surge past Texas 67-56 on Saturday.
Nix was 7 for 10 from the field and 11 for 13 at the line, a major improvement for a 64.9 percent foul shooter.
Keith Appling had 14 points and Adreian Payne added 13 for the Spartans (11-2), who stayed perfect in six December games.
Julien Lewis scored 16 points and Sheldon McClellan had 13 for the Longhorns (7-5), who couldn't match the efficiency of their 85-67 win over North Carolina on Wednesday night.
Texas trailed 41-40 and had a chance to take a lead but McClellan missed two free throws after a technical on Nix. The Spartans promptly grabbed a three-point lead on a jumper by Payne. They later made it 49-40 on two free throws by Nix and Appling's 3-pointer.
It was 54-44 when the Longhorns cut the lead in half. A three-point play by Ioannis Papapetrou made a four-point game, and his jumper as the shot clock expired cut the margin to 56-54. After Payne and Appling built the lead back to six and Texas' Jonathan Holmes was called for charging, Nix added a free throw to build the lead back to seven.
Nix fittingly grabbed the game's last rebound, giving his team a 36-32 edge on the boards. That and 17 second-half free throws helped immensely.
Texas, the last nonconference opponent to win in Breslin Center exactly two years earlier, came in leading the nation in field goal percentage defense at .330. The Longhorns turned up the tempo, then dropped back into a zone to start the second half. But that didn't help against Nix, who sparked a 10-0 run to give the Spartans a 36-33 lead.
Friday, May 24 2013 5:41 PM EDT2013-05-24 21:41:47 GMT
Police are looking for whoever stole nearly 40 bronze grave markers in the Hersey Cemetery in Osceola county, just days before Memorial Day. Village workers noticed the markers missing earlier this week
Police are looking for whoever stole nearly 40 bronze grave markers in the Hersey Cemetery in Osceola county, just days before Memorial Day. Village workers noticed the markers missing earlier this week
Thursday, May 23 2013 1:49 PM EDT2013-05-23 17:49:29 GMT
A Cadillac Area Public Schools teacher is in trouble with the law for drinking behind the wheel. Michelle Whitley works at Cadillac High School and faces 2 charges of operating while intoxicated, open
A Cadillac Area Public Schools teacher is in trouble with the law for drinking behind the wheel. Michelle Whitley works at Cadillac High School and faces 2 charges of operating while intoxicated, open
Friday, May 24 2013 12:21 PM EDT2013-05-24 16:21:41 GMT
Police caught 4 teens accused of breaking into a shed at a Clare County Park. Deputies were sent to the Harrison City Park, where they found that a shed at one of the baseball fields has been broken into. They
Police caught 4 teens accused of breaking into a shed at a Clare County Park. Deputies were sent to the Harrison City Park, where they found that a shed at one of the baseball fields has been broken into. They
Friday, May 24 2013 11:53 AM EDT2013-05-24 15:53:47 GMT
Two Oscoda county men accused of swindling people out of money are now charged with the crime. Police say Derek Smart and Aaron Wood went door to door asking for money for a track team fundraiser back
Two Oscoda county men accused of swindling people out of money are now charged with the crime. Police say Derek Smart and Aaron Wood went door to door asking for money for a track team fundraiser back
Friday, May 24 2013 2:49 PM EDT2013-05-24 18:49:04 GMT
Michigan drivers could start seeing right light cameras at area intersections. The measure introduced by Republican Representative Wayne Schmidt from Traverse City would give local governments the power
Michigan drivers could start seeing right light cameras at area intersections. The measure introduced by Republican Representative Wayne Schmidt from Traverse City would give local governments the power
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:34 PM EDT2013-05-24 01:34:57 GMT
Just in to the 9&10 Newsroom, more than 150 dogs have been rescued from a breeder in Missaukee county. The ASPCA is involved and says the dogs were left to live outdoors with little protection from
Just in to the 9&10 Newsroom, more than 150 dogs have been rescued from a breeder in Missaukee county. The ASPCA is involved and says the dogs were left to live outdoors with little protection from
Friday, May 24 2013 12:11 PM EDT2013-05-24 16:11:11 GMT
State wildlife regulators want to remind fisherman that using salmon eggs or minnows for bait is not allowed in some places. This is to prevent the spread of a virus that can be deadly to some fish.
State wildlife regulators want to remind fisherman that using salmon eggs or minnows for bait is not allowed in some places. This is to prevent the spread of a virus that can be deadly to some fish.
Authorities say an Army veteran charged with killing a police officer and wounding five others in a shootout during a marijuana raid has been found dead hanging in a jail cell.
A Utah Army veteran was found hanging dead Friday in his jail cell as he awaited trial on charges of killing a police officer and wounding five others during a raid that netted 13 pot plants and sparked a fierce debate about...
Thursday, May 23 2013 7:52 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:52:13 GMT
Police in Clare county arrested a man for child pornography and running an illegal party store out of his home. Police first investigated Patrick Sampson after he made lewd comments to children. They
Police in Clare county arrested a man for child pornography and running an illegal party store out of his home. Police first investigated Patrick Sampson after he made lewd comments to children. They
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