It was another game for the Nittany Lions and another tough loss.

Penn State dropped a 77-65 decision to Michigan State at the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday.

The Spartans (11-7, 2-3 Big Ten) opened up the game with a 20-2 run and it looked as if they would never look back.

But the 12,507 in attendance were in for a treat. Over the last 13:07 of the first half, the Lions (5-11, 1-4 Big Ten) scored 36 points to trail by just five, 43-38, at the half.

The Lions erased a 1-for-8 start from the field to shoot 48 percent in the first half.

The Lions knew their work was not done yet as Brandon Watkins scored eight of the first 12 Lions' points to start the second half, giving Penn State their first lead of the game, 50-49.

The game was tied at 53 when Michigan State's Kelvin Torbert hit a three-point basket to give the Spartans a 56-53 lead they would not relinquish. Torbert led his team with 16 points.

"There was a lot of swings in that game," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.

"But I must admit, for me that was one of the most rewarding wins."

Cold shooting by the Lions down the stretch would not allow them to get back in it, as they shot 4-for-17 over the last 11 minutes.

"I was just trying to put us in position to win the basketball game," Dunn said. "They just made some big-time shots. That's the difference."

Sharif Chambliss was hounded all day by Spartan defenders and didn't see many good looks. He was 5-for-11 from the field for 13 points, including 3-for-9 behind the three-point arc.

"It seemed like there was oil on the ball and a lid on the basket," Chambliss said. "We couldn't get the thing to go in."

The Spartans were able to control the glass all day, out rebounding the Lions 42-20, as Aloysius Anagonye and Adam Ballinger lurked underneath the basket. Spartan guards Torbert and Alan Anderson crashed on the boards, out jumping Lion defenders.

"We have the athletes to rebound," Watkins said.

"It's all about effort."

Despite losing Adam Wolfe early on in the game to a hamstring injury, the Spartans played Izzo's physical brand of basketball.

Sparsely used forward Jason Andreas came off the bench to score eight points and grab eight boards. Anagonye scored 14 and was one of four Spartans in double figures.

Tyler Smith led all scorers with 19.

The Lions take on Indiana Wednesday in the Bryce Jordan Center, before taking to the road for three straight.