EAST LANSING, Mich. — Wisconsin's first taste of a No. 1 ranking turned sour yesterday.

Even so, the Badgers made no excuses after falling 64-55 at Michigan State in their first game in school history as the top-ranked team in The Associated Press poll.

"I don't think that had anything to do with it," Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said of the pressure of playing with the top ranking in the nation. "Michigan State played better."

Especially Drew Neitzel. The junior guard scored 28 points and hit several key shots in the second half to give Michigan State its first win over a top-ranked team since the Spartans defeated Indiana State in the 1979 national championship game.

Wisconsin (26-3, 12-2 Big Ten) now trails No. 2 Ohio State by a half-game in the Big Ten standings. The Buckeyes play Penn State today, then host the Badgers in a No.1-No.2 showdown Sunday. The winner will be in the driver's seat for the Big Ten title and a top seed in the NCAA tournament.

The win also boosts the postseason hopes of the Spartans (20-8, 7-6 Big Ten), who are trying to make the trip to the NCAA tournament for the 10th straight season.

"This is unbelievable," Neitzel said. "It is a chance for us to leave our legacy and our footprints on the program."

The junior guard hit two 3-pointers late in the game that gave the Spartans momentum. One of his shots bounced in and out of the basket twice before falling through, giving Michigan State a 56-51 lead with 2:20 left.

His 3-pointer just a few minutes earlier gave the Spartans the lead for good, 51-49, with just under 4 minutes left.

UNLV 60, NO. 14 AIR FORCE 50

Kevin Kruger had 14 points and 10 assists to lead the host Runnin Rebels (23-6, 10-4 Mountain West) past the Falcons (23-5, 10-4) for their 13th straight home victory.

NO. 19 TEXAS 80, TEXAS TECH 51

A.J. Abrams scored 18 points to lead four teammates in double figures as the host Longhorns (20-7, 10-3 Big 12) raced to a 24-8 lead and never looked back in cruising past the Red Raiders (17-11, 6-7).

PROVIDENCE 64, NO. 22 WEST VIRGINIA 61

Weyinmi Efejuku had 24 points and seven rebounds, and the host Friars (17-9, 7-6 Big East) improved to 16-2 at home and 3-3 against ranked teams by upsetting the Mountaineers (20-7, 8-6), who made just 9 of 41 3-point attempts.

RANKED WOMEN

NO. 3 UCONN 81, SOUTH FLORIDA 67

Tina Charles had 34 points and 17 rebounds to help the visiting Huskies (25-2, 14-0) beat the Bulls (18-9, 8-6) to clinch their first outright Big East regular-season title in three years.

NO. 18 BOWLING GREEN 89, KENT STATE 66

Reserve Amber Flynn scored 21 points to lead five teammates in double figures as the visiting Falcons (25-2, 14-0) stretched their conference-record winning streak to 39 against Mid-American teams with a victory over the Flashes (13-12, 9-5).

SETON HALL 63, NO. 19 MARQUETTE 58

Ela Mukosiej scored 16 points and the host Pirates (17-9, 8-6 Big East) rallied from an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat the Golden Eagles (22-5, 10-4).

NO. 21 RUTGERS 69, PROVIDENCE 34

Matee Ajavon had 23 points, six rebounds and four assists to lead the visiting Scarlet Knights (18-7, 11-3 Big East) past the Friars (13-14, 3-11).

NO. 23 LOUISVILLE 91, ST. JOHN'S 62

Angel McCoughtry scored 21 points, 17 in the second half, to help the host Cardinals (23-5, 9-5 Big East) roll past the the Red Storm (8-17, 4-10).

IOWA STATE 64, NO. 25 NEBRASKA 53

Megan Ronhovde scored eight of her 15 points during a 18-2 second-half run that carried the host Cyclones (20-7, 8-6 Big 12) over the Cornhuskers (21-7, 9-5).