Final Score: (10) Michigan State 70, (21) Minnesota 58

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Kalin Lucas scored a career-high 24 points and Chris Allen added 13, as 10th-ranked Michigan State handed No. 21 Minnesota its first loss of the season with a 70-58 decision in the Big Ten opener for both schools at Williams Arena.

Goran Suton contributed 11 points with 12 rebounds and Raymar Morgan chipped in 10 points with 10 boards for the Spartans (10-2, 1-0 Big Ten), who have won six straight since a 98-63 drubbing at the hands of top-ranked North Carolina on December 3.

Al Nolen scored 14 points and dished out seven assists for Minnesota (12-1, 0-1), which was off to its best start since the 1948-49 team won its first 13 games. Lawrence Westbrook added 11 points in defeat.

The Gophers were outrebounded 49-27.

"We played against a team today that I thought that was more physical and tougher than we were," said Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith. "That's one of the areas we need to improve on is toughness. Rebounding is an area of toughness that we didn't do a very good job of today. When a team beats you by 22 on the boards you have no chance of winning."

Michigan State held a 30-29 lead at the break and a free throw by Colton Iverson to start the second half tied it for Minnesota, but the Spartans ripped off the next eight points.

Morgan scored four during the burst and Travis Walton's bucket capped it for a 38-30 lead. The Gophers quickly answered with four straight, but Suton and Lucas connected on three-pointers to extend Michigan State's advantage to double-digits with just over 13 minutes remaining.

Minnesota pulled within seven on a three-pointer by Nolen with 9 1/2 minutes to play, but again the Spartans pulled away with an 8-0 run. Morgan again had four and his basket with just over six minutes left gave Michigan State a comfortable 60-45 cushion.

The Spartans led by as many as 19 down the stretch.

"We told our kids to match Minnesota's intensity and we played very hard," said Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo. "In the second half, Lucas came up big for us. He had a great half and stepped up making shots for us."

Michigan State raced out to a 10-2 lead after a three-pointer by Allen, but Minnesota pulled within 14-12 with just over six minutes to play in the half.

A bucket by Lucas two minutes later gave the Spartans their largest lead of the opening half at 23-14, but Minnesota rallied. Blake Hoffarber drilled a three-pointer with 36 seconds left to pull the Gophers within 30-27 and he came up with a steal at the other end, setting up two free throws by Damian Johnson to make it a one-point game at the intermission.

Game Notes

Lucas made half of his 18 shots...Hoffarber finished with eight points in defeat...Michigan State won both meetings with Minnesota last year.

12/31 15:23:16 ET