East Lansing, MI (Sports Network) – E’Twaun Moore scored a game-best 25 points to go along with six assists, as sixth-ranked Purdue downed slumping No. 10 Michigan State, 76-64, in a key conference clash at the Breslin Center.

JaJuan Johnson added 19 points and seven rebounds, and Robbie Hummel donated 15 points for the Boilermakers (20-3, 8-3 Big Ten), who moved within a half- game of the surging Illinois Fighting Illini and downward-spiraling Michigan State in the Big Ten standings.

Chris Allen scored 21 points and Kalin Lucas, in his return from a sprained right ankle, added 12 points, but dished out just one assist for the Spartans (19-6, 9-3), who have lost three straight conference games and lost for the first time at home this season.

The Spartans went just over six minutes without a point as Purdue reeled off 13 straight points to take a double-digit lead. Johnson’s jumper just before the 12-minute mark tied the game at 17 and 11 points later Johnson’s slam opened a 28-17 margin with a little more than seven minutes on the clock.

Hummel’s slam with 1:39 left made the score 39-27, and Purdue held a 47-33 lead at the half as Hummel’s trey came just before the horn.

Johnson’s bucket opened Purdue’s biggest lead at 51-33 with just under 17 1/2 minutes on the clock, and despite edging back into the game, the Spartans still stared up at an 11-point hole after Moore’s two free throws for a 61-50 game with 8:18 on the clock.

With the margin at 65-54, the Spartans came at the Boilermakers one last time with eight straight points capped by Allen’s trey for a one-possession game, 65-62. However, Moore drained a three-pointer out of a timeout and Hummel’s reverse layup restored order at 70-62 and Purdue held on for the crucial road win.

Michigan State made just 25 percent of its shots in the second half and shot only 32.1 percent for the game…The Boilermakers made 56.8 percent of their shots.

For more on this top-ten matchup, visit our Purdue blog, Hammer and Rails, and our Michigan State blog, The Only Colors.

GAME NOTES: The 10th-ranked Michigan State Spartans will try to keep their slim hold on the top spot in the Big Ten tonight, as they host the sixth- ranked Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena.

After opening their Big Ten slate with nine consecutive wins, MSU was in complete control and on its ways to a second straight Big Ten regular-season crown. However, the Spartans were defeated in both of their outings last week, including a 78-73 setback at Illinois on Saturday, and are now only one game up in the standings. MSU is still a healthy 19-5 overall, including a perfect 13-0 at home, but there is no longer any margin for error.

One of the teams nipping at the heels of MSU is Purdue, which is 7-3 in conference play. Since losing three straight, the Boilermakers have run off five wins in a row, including a 78-75 besting of Indiana on Thursday. Purdue is now a hardy 19-3 overall and is on its way to a fourth straight 20-win campaign.

Purdue leads the all-time series with MSU, 62-44, and has taken three of the past five meetings, although the Boilermakers haven't won in East Lansing since 1998.

The Boilermakers knocked down 46.4 percent of their attempts from the floor and 20-of-28 at the foul line, as they slipped past Indiana last week. Robbie Hummel and JaJuan Johnson each scored 21 points in the win and they combined for 16 rebounds and a 16-of-21 showing at the foul line. E'Twaun Moore tacked on 14 points, as he remains the team's leading scorer on the season, averaging 17.2 ppg. Hummel adds 16.5 ppg and a team-best 7.2 rpg to the mix, while Johnson contributes 14.4 ppg and 6.9 rpg.

The Spartans shot a sound 54.7 percent from the floor, but that still wasn't enough to overcome 18 turnovers in an 78-73 loss at Illinois on Saturday. Draymond Green paced the team in defeat with a double-double of 17 points and 16 rebounds, while Chris Allen had 15 points. The Spartans played their second straight game without Kalin Lucas, as he continues to nurse a sprained right ankle. Lucas, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year, leads the team in both scoring (15.6 ppg) and assists (4.0 apg), but is listed as questionable for tonight. Durrell Summers and Raymar Morgan are both tied for second in scoring at 10.8 ppg and they are also combining for 10.6 rpg. Green, a jack-of-all- trades, adds 10.5 ppg to go along with 3.0 apg and a team-high 8.3 rpg.

MSU has obviously been hurt by the loss of Lucas and if he can't go tonight, that could spell even more trouble for the club. Still, the Spartans are a balanced and deep squad and playing at home should help them emerge with the victory even if Lucas is missing from the lineup.

GAME NOTES: The 10th-ranked Michigan State Spartans will try to keep their slim hold on the top spot in the Big Ten tonight, as they host the sixth- ranked Purdue Boilermakers at Mackey Arena.

FACTS & STATS: Mackey Arena (14,123) -- West Lafayette, Indiana. Television: ESPN. Home Record: Purdue 11-1, MSU 13-0. Away Record: Purdue 4-2, MSU 5-4. Neutral Record: Purdue 4-0, MSU 1-1. Conference Record: Purdue 7-3, MSU 9-2. Series Record:

Michigan State 70, Purdue 66