COLUMBUS, Ohio — Whatever doubts remained about Michigan State might have been put to bed Saturday.

Whatever history exists between the Spartans' Adreian Payne and the Buckeyes' Jared Sullinger, another chapter perhaps was written.

Whoever thought Ohio State was the all-but-certain Big Ten champion, should reconsider.

Michigan State rolled into Columbus Saturday night as nine-point underdogs and left with a share of the Big Ten lead, by virtue of a 58-48 victory over the Buckeyes.

Michigan State (20-5, 9-3 Big Ten) snapped Ohio State's 39-game winning streak at Value City Arena behind a career night from Payne.

The Spartans' sophomore center went toe-to-toe with Sullinger — Payne's former AAU teammate and the Buckeyes' all-everything big man — and never looked overmatched.

Payne's final bucket, a one-handed fading post bank shot over Sullinger with 4:15 remaining, helped end a Michigan State cold spell and preserve the Spartans' lead, boosting it to 50-42.

Michigan State had scored only one other field goal to that point since the 11-minute mark of the second half.

Payne finished with a career-high 15 points, making all six shot attempts and 3 of 4 free throws.

"I don't know if it's because he's from Ohio or him and Jared played together in AAU ball, but Adreian did play," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "As Day-Day (Draymond Green) said after, that was his best game maybe his whole career if you look at all the things he did and the big shot he hit with his left hand late, and the (three) offensive rebounds.

"I was proud of him, because it's been hard on him. He's gone through a lot with (the death of) his grandmother (in August) and everything."

Payne, raised by his grandmother, Mary Lewis, about hour down the road in Dayton, had never scored more than 12 points in a game, reaching that total twice this season, against Eastern Michigan and in Wednesday's win over Penn State.

Sullinger tallied 17 points and 16 rebounds but turned the ball over 10 times and made only 5 of 15 field goals against a Michigan State defense than rarely allowed for clean look or free dribble in the paint.

"I think we frustrated him at times," Payne said of Sullinger. "I just brought a lot of energy."

Michigan State frustrated more than just Sullinger, holding the Buckeyes to a season-low 26 percent from the floor, on their home court, no less — though both sides admitted some of the misses were out of character.

"You definitely have to give them credit for getting in our heads a little bit and taking us out of our offense," Ohio State guard Aaron Craft said.

Keith Appling (14 points) and Green (12 points, nine rebounds) also scored in double figures for the Spartans, which led 35-25 at the half.

Ohio State (21-4, 9-3), which trailed by 12 early in the second half (41-29), fought back to 44-40, before two free throws from Appling, a post hook by Derrick Nix and Payne's final points put Michigan State back in control.

Michigan State built much of its first-half lead behind an inspired effort from Payne, who nearly matched a season-high in 20 minutes with 11 points — beginning with a 17-foot baseline jumper and finishing with two putback dunks.

The Spartans trailed 10-7 before a 15-4 run put them in surprising control, 22-14.

After five unanswered Ohio State points, Michigan State scored 13 of the half's final 19 points for its 10-point lead.

Green carried the Spartans early, owning Buckeyes freshman Deshaun Thomas and finishing the first half with nine points and seven rebounds.

Austin Thornton and Brandon Wood came up with important first-half 3-pointers, with Wood, maligned for his lack of energy at times, also coming up with seven rebounds for the game.

Email Graham Couch at gcouch@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/Graham_Couch

