Photo: Nick King ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
EAST LANSING ~ Michigan State delivered one of its most complete performances of the season on Tuesday night, rolling past UCLA 82-59 behind a dominant defensive effort and balanced production from its veteran core. The Spartans used an 18-0 first-half run and held the Bruins to long scoring droughts, including an eight-minute stretch without a field goal. “That was maybe as good as we’ve played on both ends of the court,” Tom Izzo told WJR’s correspondent Nic Fardella, noting MSU held UCLA to 32% shooting from 3 after the Bruins had hit 40% over their previous five games.
Offensively, Michigan State’s “big four” of redshirt sophomore guard Jeremy Fears, junior forward Coen Carr, senior forward Jaxon Kohler and senior Carson Cooper combined for 53 points and 21 rebounds. Freshman forward Jordan Scott added a perfect 3-for-3 performance from deep, bringing shooting and energy that stretched the floor. “We’re going to go as far as our big four take us,” Izzo said. “But when you add Jordan Scott to that, he’s an energy bunny.” MSU assisted on 21 of its 29 made baskets, with Izzo praising how “the ball was really moving” in the first half.
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(CONTINUED) Michigan State’s defensive identity, “defend, rebound and run”, showed throughout the night as the Spartans controlled the glass and pushed in transition. Carr finished with 16 points in one of his most complete games of the season, and Izzo applauded his improved shot selection, saying even the misses “looked good.” The Spartans also shored up many of the defensive lapses that cost them against Minnesota and Wisconsin. “We threatened our guys on that,” Izzo said. “We put a lot into it the last three days.”
MSU did show some late-game sloppiness with 14 turnovers, including seven from its bigs, but Izzo viewed the performance as progress entering the stretch run of Big Ten play. “We weren’t as bad as those couple of games, and we might not be as good as hitting 14 threes and holding them to 32%,” he said. “But as long as we keep progressing, hopefully we get better.” Michigan State will look to carry the momentum into a critical matchup Sunday afternoon when it hosts Ohio State.
