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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Bryn Forbes likely didn't enter Sunday's game at Penn State thinking he would only be needed for a half, but that is exactly how No. 5 Michigan State's game at the Bryce Jordan Center played out.

Forbes, a senior guard, scored 20 points, all in the first half, while junior forward Gavin Schilling scored 13 and grabbed seven rebounds with junior guard Eron Harris adding 13 points in the Spartans' 92-65 victory over the Nittany Lions.

"No, that wasn't my goal," Forbes said, shaking his head and laughing. "But that's how things worked out. We didn't need many more shots form me."

That's been the case for Michigan State (16-1, 3-1 Big Ten) since it lost senior guard Denzel Valentine after he injured his knee in practice on Dec. 20. Others had to step up, and Forbes has been at the forefront, along with Harris, who averaged 18.5 point over the previous four games.

Even with Valentine back in the lineup on Sunday, the Spartans went deep with nine players in the scoring column, including Valentine, who scored 10.

"We tried for 3 1/2 days to get an understanding (of Michigan State)," Penn State coach Pat Chambers said. "And being here five years, I have a very good understanding of what Coach Izzo likes to do and it still doesn't matter. It's like Vince Lombardi saying, 'We're gonna sweep right, try to stop it. It doesn't matter, we're sweeping right.'

"You're not stopping them because they have so many weapons and everybody has bought into their role and that makes it more difficult. If you do a good job and you do take the first and second option away, they don't care. They know exactly what the third and fourth and fifth options are going to be and they go to it. And they are comfortable doing it and they do it well."

The Nittany Lions (10-7, 1-3) stayed close for most of the first half, but things got out of control in the second half as Michigan State's lead ballooned to 31.

Sophomore guard Shep Garner was Penn State's most effective weapon, scoring 19 points. Sophomore forward Julian Moore added 13, senior guard Devin Foster 12 and senior forward Brandon Taylor 10.

"I like this Penn State team, I know they're young in some spots," Izzo said. "It was just one of those games where Forbes caught on fire early. And I thought our execution was really good early and that got us some big baskets that got us going."

The Spartans (16-1, 3-1 Big Ten) opened the game 3-for-14 from the field but started to heat up from there. Forbes missed his first three shots but was perfect for the rest of the first half and finished 7-for-10 from the field, including 6-for-8 from 3-point range.

Just having Valentine on the court made a big difference for Forbes.

"The defense has got to pay attention to him," Forbes said. "He's a candidate for national player of the year, so if he's on the court it changes everything. That makes it an easier game for everyone."

It was easier for Michigan State, but not so much for Penn State.

The Nittany Lions shot just 3-for-14 from 3-point range and turned the ball over 13 times, leading to 24 Michigan State points.

"We're going to be on a roller coaster this year," Chambers said of his young team. "But we've just got to stay together."

For Michigan State, it was the perfect way to come off the four-game stretch with Valentine out. It went 3-1 in that time, its only loss coming at Iowa, a team it hosts on Thursday.

"We got some guys going a little of bit that wouldn't have been (with Valentine in)," Izzo said. "Harris gets 13 and since he has been out he's averaging 16 and I think Forbes is averaging 16 or 17."

NOTES: Penn State senior F Brandon Taylor was honored before the game for passing the 1,000 career-point mark when he scored 18 against Michigan on Jan. 2. He scored 10 points Sunday and now has 1,040 for his career, ranking him 25th all-time for the Nittany Lions. ... Michigan State senior G Denzel Valentine returned to the lineup after missing four games with an injured left knee. Valentine averaged 18.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.1 assists in the first 12 games while recording a pair of triple-doubles. On Sunday, Valentine had 10 points, four rebounds and four assists ... Michigan State entered the game having outrebounded its opponents in 15 of 16 games. The Spartans grabbed 40 rebounds on Sunday while the Nittany Lions had 32.