Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Drew Neitzel scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half as 11th-ranked Michigan State shrugged off a challenge from Minnesota for a 78-73 win at Williams Arena.

Neitzel went 5-for-8 from three-point range and Goran Suton added a double- double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 13 rebounds as the Spartans (16-2, 4-1 Big Ten) won for the 13th time in 14 games. Kalin Lucas scored 12 points for Michigan State, while Chris Allen added 11 points in just 14 minutes.

"(Neitzel) is starting to make some shots," said Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo. "In the last few games, he hadn't been shooting the ball very well. We need him to pick it up in order to succeed. Also, it helps if others contribute when Drew is performing poorly."

Lawrence McKenzie scored a game-high 20 points for Minnesota (12-5, 2-3) as the Golden Gophers lost for the third time in their last five games. Lawrence Westbrook scored 12 points, but also committed five turnovers in the loss.

The first half was tight throughout, as the lead was traded back-and-forth. Dan Coleman's layup with 6:34 left in the half gave the Gophers the largest advantage of the half at 23-18, but the Spartans charged back and closed the session with a 13-4 spurt, capped off by an Allen putback that sent Michigan State to the locker room leading 31-27.

The Gophers came out of the break hot, as McKenzie's three-pointer with 14:27 remaining capped off 8-2 run early in the second half to give Minnesota a 40-38 lead. However, Neitzel responded on the Spartans' very next possession, nailing a three that gave Michigan State a lead that would not be relinquished.

"We had our chances," said Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith. "We knew the pressure was going to be the same as if you were playing any team in the Big Ten. Good teams like Michigan State pressure the ball and force turnovers. Then we had unforced turnovers of our own and just threw it away some times."

The Spartans held the Gophers at bay through the rest of the half, leading by as many as 10 after a pair of free throws from Raymar Morgan with 2:32 left in the game.

McKenzie scored 10 points in the final 1:53 to get Minnesota within five, but the Spartans made all seven of their free throw attempts during that stretch to prevent the Gophers from further closing the gap.