Michigan State's goalie Trey Augustine, left, fights off Minnesota's Aaron Huglen, right, during the first period on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, at Munn Arena in East Lansing. / Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Freshman Syla Swords scored 23 points, eight in the fourth quarter, and No. 24 Michigan edged No. 23 Minnesota 70-65.

Michigan State lost its top spot in the USCHO poll after an overtime loss to Michigan last week. The Spartans fell just one spot and still earned 13 first-place votes. They'll have quite the matchup this week as Minnesota visits for a two-game set.

The Michigan Wolverines (13-5) will try to continue a three-game winning streak when they visit the Minnesota Golden Gophers (17-2) at 8:00 PM ET on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at Williams Arena.

With each passing game, Michigan’s freshmen look less and less like rookies. On Thursday night in Minneapolis, they carried the Wolverines to their first top-25 win of the season. Michigan beat No. 23 Minnesota 70-65, handing the Golden Gophers their first loss at Williams Arena this season in 12 tries.

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Through 18 games, the Michigan Wolverines have a shaky tendency that continues to rear its ugly head at the most inopportune times.

Michigan State’s rapid resurgence under Nightingale included winning its first Big Ten regular season and tournament titles last year, just his second on the job. This is a different team and also one looking to extend the program’s best start in 24 years while defending a championship.

SportsLine's model just revealed its college basketball picks for the Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. Michigan Wolverines on Thursday night

But the Gophers (17-3 overall, 5-3 Big Ten) struggled to finish against Michigan’s physical defense, making only nine of 33 second-half shots and just four of 15 in the fourth q

Combining for 54 points against Minnesota, the Michigan women's basketball team's Olson, Swords and Holloway paved the way for victory.

The Spartans and Golden Gophers last met in December when Michigan State nearly swept then-No. 1 Minnesota, leaving Minneapolis with a tie (shootout win) and come-from-behind win