Rocket Watts scored a career-high 23 points and No. 8 Michigan State started out flat against Detroit Mercy but avoided a huge upset, winning 83-76 on Friday night in East Lansing, Mich.
The Spartans (4-0) were coming off a road victory over No. 6 Duke earlier this week.
The Titans (0-1) led by five midway through the second half of a closely contested game with 10 lead changes and nine ties. Detroit Mercy's last road victory over a top-10 team was in 1979 at Marquette with future NBA players, including Earl Cureton and the late Terry Duerod.
Detroit, playing its first game after having three canceled because of COVID-19 issues, was led by Antoine Davis, who scored 24 points on 10-of-26 shooting while playing for his father, former Indiana coach Mike Davis.
Michigan State's Gabe Brown scored 16 points, Aaron Henry had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Joey Hauser added 10 points.
Purdue 68, Valparaiso 61: Isaiah Thompson scored eight of his 14 points in the last 5:32, Sasha Stefanovic scored 19 points and the host Boilermakers (3-1) beat the stubborn Crusaders (0-3) after trailing for most of the game. Valpo, which hasn't beaten in-state rival Purdue since 1965, led 34-23 at halftime.
Maryland 90, St. Peter's 54: Hakim Hart scored 20 of his 33 points in the second half and the host Terrapins (4-0) routed the Peacocks (2-2). Hart, who combined for 28 points in 18 games as a freshman last season, shot 11-for-13 from the floor, with five three-pointers and four steals.
• No. 5 Illinois' game Saturday vs. Tennessee-Martin was canceled Friday because of COVID-19 cases in the Skyhawks program, three days after the game was added to the Illini schedule.
