Photo: William Navarro ~ IMAGN IMAGES
EAST LANSING, Feb. 1, 2025 ~ #7 Michigan State basketball (18-3) could not overcome an early deficit at USC (13-8), losing 70-64 for their first loss of the season in conference play (9-1). After an impressive 13-game win streak, aided by an unbeaten record in December and January, the beginning of the month of February brings an end to the run of victories.
The Spartans, who rank third in the entire country in free throw shooting, uncharacteristically missed eight free throws in the six point defeat. The team shot 11-19 from the line.
Trojan junior guard Desmond Claude led all scorers with 19 points, shooting an efficient 6-13 from the field. Sophomore guard Wesley Yates III and graduate student forward Chibuzo Agbo also hurt MSU with their scoring, combining for 29 points.
Lots of green and white could be found in the stands of the Galen Center, including MSU legend Magic Johnson.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Lots of Spartan family in the building pic.twitter.com/E0xxbjBLuU
— Michigan State Men's Basketball (@MSU_Basketball) February 1, 2025
(CONTINUED) Redshirt freshman point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. led Michigan State in scoring, notching 12 points and a game-high six assists. Senior guard Jaden Akins followed up with 11 of his own while sophomore forward Coen Carr notched nine.
Junior guard Tre Holloman and senior forward Frankie Fidler both struggled to hit shots throughout the afternoon, combining to shoot 4-16 for the day.
Next up for Michigan State is a late-night trip to UCLA on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 10 p.m. This will be the last game of the West Coast trip for MSU. Head coach Tom Izzo will have a chance to tie Bob Knight’s all-time Big Ten win record at 653 against the Bruins.
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