MSU's sixth-seeded men's soccer team eked out a 3-2 victory over third-seeded Ohio State (11-7-1, 3-3) in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.

Sophomore midfielder Jordan Gruber kept MSU's tourney hopes alive Thursday, netting the game-winning goal with just more than three minutes left in regulation to allow the Spartans (12-6 overall, 3-3 Big Ten) to advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.

The Spartans enjoyed a 1-0 lead less than five minutes into the match after a Buckeye defender headed the ball into his own net.

Neither team scored until the 40th minute when an MSU defender deflected a cross past senior goalkeeper Tyler Robinson for an own goal to deadlock the score at one going into the break.

MSU senior forward Brett Konley had the first real score of the game, chipping a shot over Ohio State goalkeeper Chad Brown at 56:32 to break the tie.

The goal was Konley's team-leading ninth of the season.

Ohio State forward Kevin Nugent snuck one past Robinson on a breakaway drive to reknot the match.

Both teams traded scoring opportunities the remainder of the game, but it was Gruber who emerged the hero.

The midfielder notched his seventh goal of the year by sneaking a ball into the corner of the net at 86:39 to end the Buckeyes' hopes of a conference tournament title.

Gruber's goal was assisted by both senior forward Derek Ornekian and junior midfielder Jeff Krass.

Robinson made five saves in the win.

MSU will play second-seeded Michigan, at 4 p.m. on Thursday.

U-M beat Northwestern 1-0.

Kickoff for the Spartans' second-round match is 7:30 p.m today.

The winner will advance to the tournament championship game, which will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Penn State's Jeffrey Field will host all Big Ten Tournament games.