ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Freshman Delvon Roe is starting to make Tom Izzo's prediction come true.

Roe scored 11 of his season-high 14 points in the first half and finished one short of his career best with 10 rebounds, helping No. 9 Michigan State earn a cushion that paved the way for a 54-42 win over Michigan last night.

Before the season, Izzo said it would take a few months for Roe to regain the form that made the Ohioan a highly touted recruit before he had surgery on both knees.

"I'm not back yet, but I'm getting closer," Roe said. "I want to do this on a consistent basis, not just one night."

The Spartans (20-4, 10-2 Big Ten) have won three straight to open a 2 1/2-game lead over Illinois and Ohio State, moving closer to their first conference championship since 2001.

What would it mean to Izzo to end the drought?

"It would get guys like you off my back," Izzo said to a reporter. "Believe me, we have a lot of games left and some tough ones, but this was a big step."

DeShawn Sims scored 18 points to lead Michigan (15-10, 5-7), which closed to 42-38 with 4:48 left but couldn't get closer.

NO. 12 CLEMSON 87, BOSTON COLLEGE 77: Trevor Booker had 21 points and 13 rebounds and Terrence Oglesby added 21 points, including a four-point play with 11:54 left to put the visiting Tigers (20-3, 6-3 ACC) ahead for good at 61-57 in beating the Eagles (18-8, 6-5).

NO. 13 VILLANOVA 102, NO. 10 MARQUETTE 84: Scottie Reynolds scored 27 points, Corey Fisher added 21, including 3-pointer for a 48-45 lead with 1:21 left in the first half, and the host Wildcats (20-4, 8-3 Big East) never trailed again in beating the Golden Eagles (20-4, 9-2).

No. 25 Florida State 68, Virginia 57: Toney Douglas scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half, and Deividas Dulkys hit a go-ahead 3-pointer for a 43-41 lead with 7:35 to play as the host Seminoles (19-5, 6-3 ACC) handed the Cavaliers (7-13, 1-8) their eighth consecutive loss.

RANKED WOMEN

NO. 19 PITTSBURGH 61, RUTGERS 53: Sophronia Sallard scored a career-high 20 points and Shayla Scott hit consecutive 3-pointers in overtime to help the visiting Panthers (18-4, 8-2 Big East) end a 13-game losing streak to the Scarlet Knights (13-9, 5-6).