Michigan State 71, Iowa 69

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Two men down and in a hostile environment, Michigan State found a way to win, much like it has been doing for much of the season.

Senior guard Keith Appling scored 16 points, including a huge 3-pointer in overtime, sophomore center Matt Costello had career highs in points (11) and rebounds (12) and seldom-used junior guard Russell Byrd hit a 3-pointer in the final minute of overtime to lead No. 7 Michigan State to a 71-69 victory over No. 15 Iowa on Tuesday at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Michigan State (19-2, 8-1 Big Ten) was coming off its first conference loss of the season, to Michigan on Saturday, and was down two starters, but the Wolverines rallied in the second half and pulled away in overtime, dodging a late Iowa shot that would have won the game for the Hawkeyes.

When Iowa (16-5, 5-3) went on a 7-0 run late in the second half to take a 57-51 lead, it looked like the Hawkeyes were on their way to staying unbeaten at home. But Appling buried a 3-pointer and Costello scored on a dish from sophomore guard Gary Harris to cut the Iowa advantage to one point with 4:36 left in regulation. Appling then knocked the ball away from sophomore center Adam Woodbury and picked up the loose ball before dishing to Costello for a dunk, allowing the Spartans to regain the lead, 58-57, with 4:07 left.

Iowa senior guard Roy Devyn Marble went out limping during the run but returned to the bench with less than four minutes to play and re-entered the game after Woodbury hit a pair of free throws to put Iowa back in front with 3:54 to play. Costello answered with a pair of free throws to put Michigan State back in the lead.

Michigan State had a chance to extend the lead but turned the ball over on two straight possessions. Iowa managed to tie the game at 60 when sophomore guard Mike Gesell split a pair of free throws with 1:25 to play.

With 1:04 left, Harris drew a foul and went to the line, splitting a pair to put Michigan State ahead 61-60. Gesell split a pair as well to tie the game again.

Appling had a shot to put Michigan State ahead in the final half minute but missed badly on a 3-pointer. Then Marble couldn’t finish on a floater in the lane and Basabe missed on the put-back attempt.

In overtime, the Spartans struggled offensively, but Appling’s 3-pointer, a tip-in from Costello and Byrd’s triple put them ahead by six. Iowa kept scrapping and had a chance to tie at the buzzer, but Gesell’s runner missed.

Marble scored 21 to lead the Hawkeyes, and forward Aaron White score 10.

Michigan State started the game quickly, jumping to a 10-3 lead and pushing it to 13-6 on three straight 3-pointerss from sophomore guard Denzel Valentine, junior guard Travis Trice and redshirt freshman forward Kenny Kaminski.

But the Hawkeyes started attacking the basket and getting to the foul line, and they took an 18-15 lead on a pair of free throws from Woodbury and White.

The Spartans briefly regained the lead on Valentine’s second 3-pointer, but Marble and senior forward Melsahn Basabe combined to score the next 12 points to give the Hawkeyes a 30-26 halftime lead.

NOTES: Entering the game, Iowa was unbeaten at home, winning all 11 of its games while Michigan State entered 9-0 in games away from Breslin Center. The Hawkeyes came into the game as the only Big Ten team not to lose at home this season and had won 20 straight at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. … Michigan State was short-handed again as senior forward Adreian Payne missed his sixth straight game with a sprained right foot and junior forward Branden Dawson did not play for the second game because of a broken right hand. … Iowa sophomore guard Anthony Clemmons and Michigan State sophomore guard Denzel Valentine were high school teammates at Lansing (Mich.) Sexton High. They won back-to-back Class B state championships in 2011-12.