Adreian Payne returned and Keith Appling sat out. Just another night in this injury-plagued season for Michigan State, which is still right there at the top of the Big Ten standings. ''I just feel that we're in the hunt right now,'' Spartans coach Tom Izzo said. You've got to be in the hunt before you get a chance to win a championship.'' Payne scored 12 points in his first game back from a foot injury, and the ninth-ranked Spartans kept pace in the league race with an 82-67 victory over Penn State on Thursday night. More...