MINNEAPOLIS (AP) &045; Since Glen Mason took over as coach eight years ago, Minnesota has consistently had one of the country’s best running games.

The Big Ten’s leading rusher, Laurence Maroney, was stuck on the sideline with a sore right ankle on Saturday, but the Gophers sure weren’t without options in the backfield.

Gary Russell got them going in the first half, and Amir Pinnix overwhelmed Michigan State after that in a grinding, 41-18 victory by Minnesota.

Russell, who now has 967 yards and 17 touchdowns rushing this year, took a hard hit to the head while trying to catch a pass in the second quarter and didn’t play after halftime. He finished with 85 yards and two touchdowns on 19 attempts.

Pinnix did plenty more than that, racking up a career-best 206 yards and 32 carries. The Gophers’ offensive line, led by four-year starters Greg Eslinger and Mark Setterstrom, was dominant once again.

&8220;It felt good,&8221; the sophomore said. &8220;I saw a bunch of open holes everywhere.&8221;

After totaling 194 yards rushing over Minnesota’s three nonconference games, Pinnix sat out against Purdue because of an injury and didn’t get another carry until last week’s win at Indiana.

He was trying to be patient, but it wasn’t easy. Mason had a talk with him earlier this month, encouraging him to keep his anxiety down.

&8220;Good things happen to good people,&8221; Mason said.

Especially when they’re running behind a line like this one.

&8220;They kicked our tail today. That’s the best offensive front we’ve seen on tape and played against this year,&8221; Spartans coach John L. Smith said.

Maroney, whose 1,345 yards were the most in the conference coming into the week, went through warmups for the Gophers (7-3, 4-3) &045; but stood and watched all afternoon without his shoulder pads on while Pinnix and Russell wore down Michigan State (5-5, 2-5). Maroney got hurt the week before in a win at Indiana.

&8220;Running backs get the shine and the glory,&8221; Pinnix said, &8220;but all the glory should go to the line.&8221;

While their opponents were busy with all those congratulations, the Spartans were sorting out their fifth loss in the last six games.

&8220;I think maybe in times like this we press and try to do too much, because we’re trying to find

ways to get back to the way we were playing,&8221; said quarterback Drew Stanton.

&8220;It’s not over,&8221; receiver Terry Love said. &8220;Next week, we’ve just got to come out working harder.&8221;

Michigan State, which ranked as high as 11th in the AP poll after winning its first four, dropped six passes in the first half &045; including two in a row by Love in the second quarter. The first one glanced off his outstretched hands at the 10-yard line in a 14-3 game and would have gone for a 51-yard touchdown.

The Spartans also committed eight penalties, including a holding call on tackle Stefon Wheeler at the end of the second quarter after an 11-yard run by Stanton ended at the Gophers’ 13-yard line. Instead, the ball was moved back to the 34, and Matt Haughey’s 51-yard field goal was blocked as time expired &045; preserving a 21-3 advantage for Minnesota. That was Haughey’s second blocked kick of the half.

&8220;We’re not as mentally tough as we need to be. You’ve got to do something positive to gain confidence,&8221; Smith said, &8220;and we haven’t been able to do that.&8221;

Michigan State needs to win next week at home against No. 6 Penn State to be postseason-eligible.

&8220;We can beat anybody out there,&8221; linebacker David Herron Jr. said. &8220;We’ve just got to execute and do the things we’re supposed to.&8221;

Bryan Cupito was 8-of-13 for 123 yards with no interceptions and touchdown passes to Matt Spaeth and Ernie Wheelwright. He handed the ball off 63 times.

&8220;That was probably our best team game of the year,&8221; Cupito said. &8220;It’s a great offense we have. It just shows what great coaches we have, and they have the right players for the system.&8221;