Spartans Defeat Boilermakers, Chase Big Ten Lead

The No. 14 Michigan State Spartans achieved a 75-66 victory over No. 13 Purdue, pulling closer to rival Michigan in the Big Ten standings. With this win, Michigan State improved to 21-5 overall and 12-3 in the conference, while Purdue's loss marked their third consecutive defeat. Michigan currently leads the conference at 12-2 and will face the Spartans in a crucial rivalry matchup on Friday. The Spartans, needing to win games against top-ranked opponents, are in a tight race for the Big Ten title, with only a half-game separating them from Michigan. Meanwhile, Purdue, the defending champions, struggles to maintain its standing without key players, complicating their championship aspirations. The upcoming games will be pivotal for both Michigan State and Michigan as they vie for the conference crown.