Michigan State pulls away in the first half, beats Penn State 80-72 behind Hall’s career-high 29

University Park, PA - UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (AP) — Malik Hall had a career-high 29 points and 10 rebounds, Jaden Akins scored 16 of his 20 points in the first half and Michigan State beat Penn State 80-72 on Wednesday night.

Michigan State (16-9, 8-6) has won seven of its last nine games and four of its last five after starting Big Ten play 1-4.

Michigan State made 13 of its first 25 shots, while Penn State shot just 31.6%, to help take a 32-18 lead. The Spartans went on a 10-0 run to take the first double-digit lead of the game with 6:07 left before halftime.

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - JANUARY 21: A view of the Michigan State Spartans logo on their uniform during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center on January 21, 2024 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

Akins and Xavier Booker combined to make three 3-pointers on four possessions to give Michigan State a 41-26 lead. Akins made four 3-pointers in the first half as Michigan State led 45-31. The Spartans shot 56% in the half, while Penn State was just 11 of 29.

Penn State started the second half on a 7-1 run to get within 46-38. The Nittany Lions cut it to eight points again, at 58-50, but Michigan State scored the next six points to go ahead by double figures until Zach Hicks hit a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left.

Carson Cooper added 10 points for Michigan State, which claimed the season’s first series meeting, 92-61, on Jan. 4 in East Lansing. Tyson Walker and A.J. Hoggard combined to score 10 points on 5-of-17 shooting.

Hicks and Ace Baldwin Jr. each scored 15 points for Penn State (12-13, 6-8), which had won three of its last four games — with all three victories by double digits. Nick Kern Jr. added 14 points.

Michigan State travels to play Michigan on Saturday. Penn State plays at Nebraska on Saturday.