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GAME NOTES: Two team still very much in the hunt for the Big Ten title collide in East Lansing today, as the 11th-ranked Michigan State Spartans play host to the ninth-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.

Tom Izzo's Spartans are coming off a 72-58 road win at Indiana this week. The win was the second in a row following a three-game slide and kept Michigan State atop the Big Ten standings, currently tied with Purdue at 11-3. The Spartans have won 13 of their 14 games at the Breslin Center this season and are an impressive 206-25 at home under Izzo.

Thad Matta's Buckeyes are just a game back at 10-4. Ohio State would be in the conference's top spot had it not been for Wednesday's 60-57 loss to Purdue. The setback to the Boilermakers halted an impressive six-game win streak. One of the few weaknesses for OSU this season has been its play on the road, where the team is a meager 4-5.

This is the 115th all-time meeting between these two teams, with MSU holding a 63-51 advantage. Michigan State has won 40 of the 55 meetings in East Lansing and 14 of the 17 matchups at the Breslin Center.

Ohio State has relied heavily on its starters this season, as four of them are averaging over 32 minutes a game. So far, that has worked in the team's favor, as all four are averaging double figures, contributing to a team total of 73.7 ppg. Evan Turner is clearly the best of the bunch and one of the most explosive players in the Big Ten and the nation for that matter. After earning All-American accolades a year ago, Turner is at it again, as he paces the conference in both scoring (19.5 ppg) and rebounding (9.2 rpg), while ranking second in assists (5.8 apg). Turner is the focal point, but players like William Buford (13.8 ppg, 3.1 apg), Jon Diebler (12.6 ppg, team-high 79 three- pointers) and David Lighty (12.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.7 apg) all play significant roles. Turner erupted for 29 points against Purdue, but it wasn't enough in a three-point loss. Buford added 11 points and Diebler chipped in with 10, but Ohio State shot just 41.7 percent from the floor, including a meager 26.7 percent from behind the arc (4-of-15).

Michigan State has a far deeper bench than Ohio State and Tom Izzo utilizes it, with seven players currently getting 21 minutes on the floor per game or more. In addition, MSU's bench is outscoring other Big Ten benches by nine points per game. The scoring pool is deep, with four players averaging double figures. Last year's Big Ten Player of the Year Kalin Lucas leads the way, as he paces the team in both scoring (15.7 ppg) and assists (eighth in the conference at 3.9 apg). Raymar Morgan and Durrell Summers are next in the scoring column at 10.3 ppg, while Draymond Green rounds things out at 10.1 ppg. Green also leads the team in rebounding (third in the conference at 8.0 rpg) and steals (36). Chris Allen is the team's top sniper (.413 from behind the arc) and comes in just under double figures at 9.8 ppg. The Spartans shot a sizzling .593 from the floor and committed a mere eight turnovers, keys to victory at Indiana this week. Green led the way off the bench with 14 points in 19 minutes of work. Lucas added 13 points, while Morgan and Allen chipped in with 10 apiece.

Turner is the most dynamic player on the floor in most games he is in, but the Buckeyes' inconsistency on the road, coupled with the Spartans' success at home, pushes the scales in Michigan State's favor here.