Michigan State's Cam Ward dunks against Arkansas during the first half on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
EAST LANSING ~ In a gritty early-season showdown, No. 22 Michigan State edged No. 14 Arkansas 69–66 at the Breslin Center, leaning heavily on physicality and paint dominance to overcome a rough night from beyond the arc.
The Spartans shot just 1-for-14 from 3-point range, continuing a trend from last season in which perimeter shooting was a persistent issue. But head coach Tom Izzo wasn’t fazed. “I think we did that on purpose so we could prove we could win without scoring,” Izzo joked postgame.
Instead, Michigan State relied on its interior presence, outscoring Arkansas 46–28 in the paint. Freshman forward Cam Ward led the way with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while junior forward Coen Carr added 15 points, seven boards and three assists in a dynamic first-half performance. “Carr opened Saturday’s game with authority,” Izzo said.
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(CONTINUED) Defensively, the Spartans showed flashes of their trademark toughness, forcing 14 turnovers and holding Arkansas to 25% shooting from three. Izzo emphasized the importance of transition defense, even as his team struggled with turnovers. “We said that was number one key believe it or not transition defense,” he said. “Which we didn’t do too well, but we didn’t do it too well because we turned the ball over and it was jailbreaks.”
The win was part of a strong weekend for Michigan State athletics, with victories in hockey and women’s soccer also drawing praise from Izzo. “The better Michigan State other teams and other programs do, the better for me,” he said. “Our fans need and deserve that, they need big games here.”
With a tough non-conference schedule ahead, including matchups against Kentucky, Duke, and North Carolina, the Spartans will need to find consistency on offense. But if Saturday’s win proved anything, it’s that this team can fight, even when the shots aren’t falling.
