Ann Arbor - It was Alan Anderson's day.

The senior swingman had 16 points, including his 1,000th career point, to lead the No. 13 MSU men's basketball team to a 64-49 win over Michigan on Saturday at Crisler Arena.

"Alan Anderson may have had his best game as a Spartan on both ends of the court," MSU head coach Tom Izzo said.

Late in the game, after U-M (12-13 overall, 3-8 Big Ten) had withered an 18-point MSU lead to only eight, the Wolverines tried to trap the Spartans in the backcourt, but senior guard Chris Hill was able to find Anderson in the paint for two jumpers that put the game out of reach. Anderson had six points and an assist in the game's final three minutes.

"He's playing so much more aggressively," Hill said of Anderson. "He's looking to make plays."

Unlike the matchup between the two teams on Jan. 27 at Breslin Center, where U-M jumped out to a 7-0 lead, MSU (17-4, 8-2) set the tone for this game early, jumping on the Wolverines right off the bat and taking the first four baskets straight to the rim with a layup and three dunks to take an 8-2 lead.

This was led by sophomore guard Shannon Brown, who scored eight points in just more than five minutes to begin the game.

Brown, who scored only one point Wednesday against Ohio State, was determined to have a better game.

"Shannon said to me at the pregame meal, 'Coach, just stick with me. I'm going to play and I'm going to be there for you today,' and that was a mouthful," Izzo said. "He was a load today."

Brown finished with 14 points and missed only one field-goal shot.

U-M head coach Tommy Amaker praised MSU's transition game, which capitalized on many of the Wolverines' 17 turnovers.

"They pushed it right at us and got easy basket after easy basket and put us on our heels," Amaker said. They have superior athletes out there on the perimeter."

U-M tried to slow down the game, waiting until the shot clock was in single digits on most possessions before taking a shot.

The strategy, which was successful against Illinois, was not as effective against the Spartans.

"We certainly know that if the game is going to be scored in high numbers right now with our team, it's probably not one that we can feel we can come out on top," Amaker said.

MSU held the Wolverines' big men - Graham Brown, Courtney Sims and Chris Hunter - to only 10 points.

"Our inside defense was much, much better," Izzo said. "There was much better pressure on the basketball."

MSU junior center Paul Davis, who had 10 points, credited the team's 1-on-1 defense.

"We were making guys score over us, rather than letting them throw over the top," he said.

Freshman guard Drew Neitzel made his third straight start in place of Hill, but Izzo said he was not sure how much longer he would stick with the change.

U-M guard Dion Harris had a game-high 22 points as the Wolverines dropped their 12th game out of 13 tries against the Spartans.

Source: Big Ten