Friday's college hockey roundup: Badgers win, tie Gophers atop Big Ten

Grant Besse's goal early in the third period was the eventual winner as Wisconsin beat host Penn State 7-4 on Friday night in the Big Ten to regain a share of the conference lead — coupled with the Gophers' 5-3 loss at Michigan — with three regular-season games left.

Besse's ninth goal of the season put the No. 16 Badgers (19-11-1, 12-5 Big Ten) ahead 5-3. Seventy seconds later, Dylan Richard of the No. 11 Nittany Lions (20-9-2, 9-7-1) cut the lead to one. But Ryan Wagner ensured Wisconsin's win with two goals in the last six minutes, the second an empty-netter.

Jack Berry had 34 saves for the Badgers, Peyton Jones 25 for Penn State.

Michigan State 5, Ohio State 4: Logan Lambdin scored two goals as the visiting Spartans built a 5-1 lead halfway through the game and held on to edge the No. 13 Buckeyes.

Western Michigan 7, Minnesota Duluth 4: The No. 8 Broncos built a 5-1 lead and held on to beat the No. 3 Bulldogs.

North Dakota 3, Miami (Ohio) 2: Trevor Olson's unassisted, shorthanded goal with 1:40 left gave the No. 15 Fighting Hawks the road win.

St. Cloud State 5, Colorado College 2: Brothers Nick and Jack Poehling each scored goals late in the opening period to lead the No. 19 Huskies past the host Tigers.

Minnesota State Mankato 3, Alaska 0: Parker Tuomie had two goals and Jason Pawloski made 23 saves as the Mavericks (20-11-4) beat the visiting Nanooks (12-19-4).

Bemidji State 3, Northern Michigan 0: Michael Bitzer stopped 30 shots as the Beavers (21-13-3) beat the Wildcats (12-21-4) on three goals in the second period. Leo Fitzgerald, Zach Whitecloud and Kyle Bauman got the goals for Bemidji State.