Northwestern tops No. 20 Michigan State in Big Ten opener
Northwestern’s Ty Berry, right, shoots against Michigan State’s Jaden Akins during the first half of Sunday’s game.
Al Goldis/AP
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Boo Buie scored 20 points and Northwestern beat No. 20 Michigan State 70-63 on Sunday night in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
Chase Audige added 15 points and Ty Berry had 13 for Northwestern (6-3).
Mady Sossoko and A.J. Hoggard each had 12 points for Michigan State (5-3) and Joey Hauser added 10. The Spartans have lost two in a row, falling to Notre Dame earlier in the week.
Hoggard cut Northwestern’s lead to 64-63 with 46 seconds left. After a timeout, Buie scored on a layup with 23 seconds left.
Northwestern took the lead late in the first half on a layup by Buie and never relinquished it, leading by as many as nine points.
The Wildcats went 21 of 24 on free throws, while the Spartans were 9 of 12.
Northwestern beat Michigan State for the second straight time and third in four games.
UP NEXT
Northwestern: Hosts Prairie View A&M on Dec. 11
Michigan State: At Penn State on Wednesday night.