ROUNDUP | Spartans score share of Big Ten championship

Miles Bridges grabbed the Big Ten trophy, lifted it and flashed an ear-to-ear grin.

Bridges scored 19 points, leading No. 2 Michigan State to an 81-61 victory over Illinois on Tuesday to seal a share of the Big Ten championship.

The Spartans (27-3, 15-2 Big Ten) have won 11 in a row and can claim the conference title outright if they win at Wisconsin on Sunday.

Bridges turned down a chance to make millions in the NBA to be a college sophomore in part to chase championships, and now he has one.

"That's why I came back," he said. "Memories that will last a lifetime."

It is clear, though, he's not satisfied with a Big Ten title. "We're not done yet," he told the Breslin Center crowd.

Coach Tom Izzo, likewise, isn't content with winning his eighth Big Ten title. "It's one of those years, I'm not satisfied with that one," he said.

It was a feel-good night on a campus reeling over how the school handled allegations against disgraced doctor Larry Nassar. An ESPN report has also stirred Michigan State's basketball and football programs by questioning how Izzo and Mark Dantonio have dealt with allegations against their players.

No. 16 Ohio State 79, Rutgers 52: C.J. Jackson had 18 points to help the host Buckeyes (23-7, 14-3 Big Ten) beat the Scarlet Knights (13-17, 3-14), following tough losses at Penn State and Michigan that dropped Ohio State out of the Big Ten lead.

Nebraska 66, Indiana 57: James Palmer scored 15 points as the host Cornhuskers (21-9, 12-5) resumed their NCAA tournament pursuit by beating the Hoosiers (16-13, 9-8), whose four-game winning streak ended.

Nation

No. 18 Rhode Island 95, La Salle 93 (OT): Jeff Dowtin scored 25 points, including four key free throws in the final seconds, and the Rams (22-4, 14-1) clinched a share of the Atlantic 10 title by beating the host Explorers (11-17, 5-10).

MIAC playoffs

St. Mary's 58, Bethel 54: Brandi Blattner had 27 points and 11 rebounds as the fifth-seeded Cardinals (16-10) beat the host and fourth-seeded Royals (18-8) to advance to the MIAC semifinals.