Photo: Junfu Han ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
EAST LANSING ~ Minnesota outlasted No. 10 Michigan State 76–73 on Wednesday night at Williams Arena, snapping the Spartans’ long dominance in the series and handing MSU its second straight loss. The Golden Gophers came out energized, building a 32–21 halftime lead behind efficient shooting and assertive guard play. Michigan State, meanwhile, struggled early for the second game in a row, opening the night shooting just 33% and falling into a double-digit deficit it would chase the rest of the way.
Despite the slow start, Michigan State surged in the second half, scoring 52 points and repeatedly trimming the margin to single digits. Junior forward Coen Carr led the Spartans with 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting while adding two emphatic dunks that briefly shifted momentum. Freshman forward Jordan Scott added key perimeter scoring, knocking down multiple 3-pointers to keep MSU within striking distance. But for every Spartan run, Minnesota had an answer.
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(CONTINUED) The Gophers were carried by junior forward Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, who poured in a game-high 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including several clutch 3s in the closing minutes. Senior guard Langston Reynolds added 14 points and controlled critical possessions late. Minnesota’s balanced scoring helped fend off each Michigan State push, even as MSU’s guards began finding rhythm in transition and half-court action.
In the final minute, Michigan State cut the deficit to one possession, but Minnesota executed cleaner late-clock sets and forced MSU into tough, contested attempts. Sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. finished with 11 assists and created several high-quality looks, but the Spartans could not come up with the final stop they needed. Michigan State dropped to 19–4 and 9–3 in the conference, leaving Tom Izzo’s group searching for answers after consecutive flat performances.
The Spartans return home Saturday night to face Illinois.
