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Michigan State upsets top-ranked Wisconsin

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From the Associated Press

Wisconsin’s first game as the nation’s top-ranked team went poorly Tuesday night, when Drew Neitzel scored 28 points to lead Michigan State to a 64-55 victory at East Lansing, Mich.

Wisconsin, 26-3 overall and 12-2 in the Big Ten Conference, gained the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press poll for the first time in team history Monday.

Neitzel’s three-point basket with 3:51 left gave Michigan State (20-8, 7-6) a 51-49 lead, and the Spartans pulled away for the victory, giving their NCAA tournament hopes a boost.

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“This is unbelievable,” Neitzel said after working his way through the crowd. “It is a chance for us to leave our legacy and our footprints on the program.”

Michigan State had not beaten a top-ranked team since Magic Johnson led the Spartans past Larry Bird and Indiana State in the 1979 national championship game.

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Illinois player Jamar Smith was charged with driving under the influence and other crimes stemming from an accident last week that left one of his teammates seriously injured.

Smith was charged with felony aggravated DUI and leaving the scene of an accident, Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz said in a news release.

Smith, driving a 1996 Lexus, had a blood-alcohol level of .176 after the crash, more than twice the legal limit of .08, Rietz said. Teammate Brian Carlwell suffered a severe concussion and spent four days in a hospital before being released.

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Suspended Gonzaga center Josh Heytvelt is being charged with felony possession of a controlled substance after his Feb. 9 arrest, when police said they found hallucinogenic mushrooms in his car. According to court documents, police found 33.2 grams of mushrooms inside a plastic bag in the back of the Chevrolet Blazer that Heytvelt was driving. Possession of any amount of illegal mushrooms is a Class C felony.

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