No. 5 Michigan State beats No. 3 Ohio State 72-68 (The Associated Press)

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State might have a championship-caliber team if it can get and keep its top players healthy.

Keith Appling made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 29 seconds left in overtime and finished with 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds despite playing with cramps in both legs while helping the fifth-ranked Spartans beat No. 3 Ohio State 72-68 Tuesday night after blowing a 17-point lead in the second half.

”Keith was getting worked on during every timeout from halftime on,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.

Adreian Payne didn’t start because of a right foot sprain, but finished with 18 points in 32 minutes.

”I got to talk to the doctors and figure it out,” Payne said of his injury.

Gary Harris scored 13 points, but the sophomore shooting guard wasn’t able to play up to his potential because of a lingering ankle injury.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo signals during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game agai …

Travis Trice, one of the team’s top reserves, didn’t play because he was ”sick,” according to Izzo.

Michigan State, which beat then-No. 1 Kentucky nearly two months ago, has won seven straight games since losing to North Carolina.

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