Dawson helps MSU hold off upstart Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Branden Dawson scored a career-high 17 points, including a late steal and tiebreaking dunk that helped No. 22 Michigan State beat Iowa 62-59 on Thursday night.

Gary Harris had 14 points for the Spartans (13-3, 2-1 Big Ten), who hung on late for their eighth win in nine games.

Dawson ripped the ball away from Iowa freshman Mike Gesell and gave Michigan State a 58-56 lead with 49 seconds left.

Anthony Clemmons missed a free throw that would have tied it with 12 seconds to go and airballed a 3-pointer at the buzzer as Iowa (11-5, 0-3) lost its third straight.

The Hawkeyes played without leading scorer Devyn Marble, who sprained his ankle in practice this week.

Zach McCabe led Iowa with 15 points and fellow reserve Melsahn Basabe added 14.

For whatever reason, Michigan State and Iowa have made a habit of teaming up for some ugly basketball in recent years.

The play was brutal at times on Thursday.

The Spartans and Hawkeyes slogged through a series of sloppy possessions early in the second half, with Michigan State slowly chipping away at Iowa's slim lead.

The Spartans finally took their first lead, 43-42, on a nifty layup by Keith Appling off yet another Iowa turnover with just under 9 minutes left.

STATE COLLEGE — Dave Sobolewski scored 18 points and Jared Swopshire added 17 as Northwestern handled cold-shooting Penn State with ease in a 70-54 Big Ten Conference victory Thursday night.

The Wildcats (10-6, 1-2) used a 25-4 run over an 11-minute span to lead by as many as 17 points, 33-16, in the first half. Penn State didn't score a basket for nearly seven minutes during that span.

DURHAM, N.C. — Elizabeth Williams scored 21 points to help No. 4 Duke beat Clemson.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — A'dia Mathies scored 23 points and Kentucky overcame a sluggish first half to rally past Texas A&M.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Freshman Chloe Pavlech scored a season-high 20 points, Tiana Hawkins had 18 points and 11 rebounds and Maryland pulled away to end Miami's five-game winning streak.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Brittany Rountree scored 17 points, including two free throws with 12.5 seconds left, to help North Carolina beat North Carolina State.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Lakevia Boykin scored a career-high 34 points and Wake Forest used a 27-8 run in the second half to upset Florida State for its fourth straight win.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Aleighsa Welch scored 13 points, Ieasia Walker added 12 and South Carolina played its usual fierce defense to beat Vanderbilt.