Michigan State's Tyler Howells scored the tying goal with less than five minutes remaining as UNO and the Spartans skated to a 3-3 tie in front of 8,578 at the Qwest Center Saturday night.

The deadlock kept the Mavericks five points behind fourth-place MSU in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings. UNO is now 13-12-7 overall and 10-9-3 in the league. No. 6 ranked MSU is 17-8-2 and 13-6-2.

Senior forward and Hobey Baker candidate Scott Parse scored goals in the first and second periods and assisted on Alex Nikiforuk's power play goal that put UNO ahead 3-2 with at 5:51 of the third period. Nikiforuk got the puck in the slot and waited a second before hitting the left corner from 20 feet.

Howells nullified that with his third of the season on an assist from Chris Mueller at 15:55.

The Mavericks, who fell behind by three goals in the first period Friday night, opened scoring when Parse took a pass from Tomas Klempa in the left circle and skated into the slot to beat Spartan goaltender Jeff Lerg at 3:20 on the first power play of the series. It was his 20th of the season.

The teams combined to score three times on power plays after skating through a penalty-free game Friday night.

The Spartans evened the score on a power play late in the period. Mueller got the first shot of the game for Michigan State against Jeremie Dupont, who made the save, but the rebound went on the stick of Tim Kennedy who scored his 13th of the year at 18:28.
Parse slid his second of the game and 21st of the season just past Lerg at 2:37 of the second for a 2-1 lead. Nikiforuk drew the assist on the score that had to be reviewed. Lerg, on his knees, reached behind him and snared the puck just as it slid across the goal line.

Bryan Lerg tied the game for the Spartans at 7:33, scoring his 18th of the season.

First Period: 1, UNO Scott Parse (Tomas Klempa , Alex Nikiforuk) pp, 3:20. 2, MSU, Tim Kennedy (Chris Mueller) pp, 18:28.
Second Period: 3, UNO, Scott Parse (Alex Nikiforuk0 2:37. 4, MSU, Bryan Lerg (Nick Sucharski) 7:33.
Third Period: 5, UNO, Alex Nikiforuk (Scott Parse, Tomas Klempa) pp, 5:51. 6, MSU, Tyler Howells (Chris Mueller) 15:55.

SOG: UNO, 21, MSU 26.
Penalties/Minutes: UNO 8/16; MSU 7/14
Power Plays: UNO 2-6; MSU 1-7
Saves: Jeremie Dupont, UNO, 23; Jeff Lerg, MSU, 18
Attendance: 8,578