Spartans overcome fight to beat Nits

ADREIAN PAYNE scored 20 points after spending the first half on the bench following a morning scuffle with teammate Brandon Dawson, and No. 18 Michigan State held on for a 81-72 victory against host Penn State on Wednesday night.

Payne, a sturdy 6-10 forward, made up for lost time by dominating the post in the second half. He had 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting in a stretch of 6-plus minutes after entering the game with about 16:30 left.

Payne added a three-pointer - his second of the season - during a 20-8 run to help the Spartans (15-3, 4-1 Big Ten) pull ahead midway through the second half.

Izzo said Dawson and Payne wouldn't be charged for the altercation, which began over what Dawson said were comments he made to assistant coaches about leaving practice gear in his room.

Both players apologized after the game.

"There were a couple words that escalated into an incident, a tussle," Payne said. "I feel embarrassed and I want to apologize to Penn State and our program."

An argument between the roommates escalated into an exchange of punches in a second-floor lobby of a Penn State campus hotel before the Spartans boarded a bus for the Jordan Center. Police were called after a wall was dented. The players were expected to pay for the damage.

Jermaine Marshall scored 22 of his career-high 29 points after halftime for Penn State (8-9, 0-5).

At Maryland, Alex Len dropped in a missed shot by teammate Pe'Shon Howard with 00.9 seconds left, as the Terrapins upset No. 14 North Carolina State, 51-50. Len, with 10 points, was the only player in double figures for Maryland (14-3, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). The Wolfpack (14-3, 3-1) got 17 points from Lorenzo Brown.

* At Butler, Andrew Smith scored 15 points, Kellen Dunham added 11 and the No. 13 Bulldogs (15-2, 3-0 Atlantic 10) downed Richmond, 62-47. The Spiders (11-7, 1-2) was led by Darien Brothers with 12 points.

* At TCU, Rodney McGruder scored 21 points and No. 16 Kansas State (14-2, 3-0 Big 12) won, 67-54.

* At Missouri, Earnest Ross scored 15 points while surviving two spills, helping the No. 17 Tigers (13-3, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) beat Georgia, 79-62.

* At Marquette, Davante Gardner had 17 points and the No. 25 Golden Eagles (13-3, 4-0 Big East) downed Seton Hall, 69-62.

* At Georgetown, Otto Porter had 20 points and eight rebounds, and the Hoyas (12-3, 2-2 Big East) beat Providence, 74-65, in their second straight game without forward Greg Whittington, who was declared academically ineligible.

Former Boston College point guard Jordan Daniels is transferring to Drake, where he will be eligible to play after next fall semester. He will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.