EAST LANSING, MICH. ? Wisconsin’s first taste of a No. 1 ranking turned sour Tuesday.

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 victory 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 entertain 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), who are trying to make the trip to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th straight season. It’s the longest streak in the Big Ten and fifth-longest in the nation. Only Arizona (22), Kansas (17), Kentucky (15) and Duke (11) have longer current streaks.

The Spartans have also notched at least 20 wins for the eighth time in the past 10 years.

Michigan State fans celebrate on the court following a 64-55 basketball upset of No. 1 Wisconsin. MSU beat the Badgers on Tuesday in East Lansing, Mich., in Wisconsin's first game as the top-ranked team in the country.

“This is unbelievable,” Neitzel said after working his way throw the crowd and heading to a postgame press conference. “It is a chance for us to leave our legacy and our footprints on the program.”

The junior guard hit two three-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 about 2:20 left.

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

“Neitzel hit some real tough shots, just like we knew he would,” Wisconsin’s Kammron Taylor said.

UNLV 60, No. 14 Air Force 50

Las Vegas – Kevin Kruger had 14 points and a career-high 10 assists to help the Rebels beat the Falcons. Kruger went 2-for-11 from the field, but 9-for-9 from the line. Joel Anthony added 10 points and nine rebounds for UNLV (23-6, 10-4 Mountain West), which won its 13th straight home game.

Providence 64, No. 22 West Virginia 61

Providence, R.I. – Weyinmi Efejuku scored 24 points with seven rebounds, and the Friars took advantage of the Mountaineers’ 32 missed three-point attempts. Jonathan Kale added nine points and nine rebounds for Providence (17-9, 7-6 Big East), which improved to 16-2 at home and 3-3 against ranked teams as it tries to move off the NCAA Tournament bubble.