LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Terran Petteway scored a season-high 32 points, Shavon Shields added 21 and short-handed Nebraska held off Michigan State 79-77 on Saturday.

The Cornhuskers (12-7, 4-3 Big Ten) won for the fourth time in five games. The Spartans (13-7, 4-3) lost for the second time in three games.

The Huskers were without two starting big men. Forward David Rivers sat out after spraining his left knee in practice Thursday, and Walter Pitchford was ejected for throwing a high elbow at a Spartan away from the ball less than four minutes into the game.

MSU’s Travis Trice scored 23 of his 27 points in the second half, and Denzel Valentine finished with 21. Branden Dawson tied a career-high with 18 rebounds to go with his eight points.

Michigan State held a 48-26 rebounding advantage, including an incredible 24-5 on the offensive end. But the Spartans shot 36 percent in the first half, 41 percent for the game and committed 16 turnovers.