EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Derrick Nix made two free throws with a minute left and finished with 17 points to help No. 22 Michigan State pull away for a 66-56 victory over Nebraska on Sunday night.
The Spartans (14-3, 3-1 Big Ten) have won three straight and kept the Cornhuskers (9-8, 0-4) from winning their first conference game this season.
Nebraska's David Rivers had 18 points, Dylan Talley scored 17 and Ray Gallegos added 12 points.
Spartans reserve Adreian Payne scored 14 points and Branden Dawson had 12 points.
Michigan State -- and Dawson in particular -- got a scare early in the second half when he was fouled and grabbed his surgically repaired left knee after tumbling to the court. Dawson later walked slowly off the court toward the locker room and was cleared to return much to the delight of the fans, who gave him a standing ovation. The sophomore standout showed his knee was very healthy in the final seconds, soaring to slam an alley-oop pass from Keith Appling for the final basket.