Le’Veon Bell ran for two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter, and No. 16 Michigan State escaped a possible upset with a 31-24 win over Minnesota on Saturday.

The Spartans (7-2, 4-1 Big Ten) maintained at least a share of the Big Ten Legends Division with the win, their 21st in the last 27 games against the Golden Gophers.

With the game knotted at 24-all early in the fourth quarter and Michigan State facing a third-and-1 from the Minnesota 35-yard-line, Bell broke through the middle and then stiff-armed his way past the safety for a long score that gave the Spartans the decisive 31-24 lead.

Minnesota (2-7, 1-4 Big Ten) lost its first three conference games of the season by a wide margin but has been much more competitive in the past two weeks. The Gophers upset Iowa last weekend and had a chance to win this one, carrying a 24-21 lead into the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Marqueis Gray found Da’Jon McKnight for three passing touchdowns, two of which came in the first half.

Gray also made several plays with his feet to keep drives alive, but the Spartans’ defense stiffened as the game wore on and eventually made it more difficult on Gray and the rest of the Gophers’ offense. Minnesota had three separate chances to tie the game in the fourth quarter but was unable to put any drives together.

The Golden Gophers had one final opportunity at the end of the game, but Gray’s pass toward the left sideline in Michigan State territory was intercepted.