Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski ~ Imagn Images
CHICAGO ~ Michigan State’s 88–84 loss to UCLA in the Big Ten quarterfinals felt like more than a setback, it felt like a breaking point, according to Spartans captain Jeremy Fears Jr. The redshirt sophomore guard didn’t mince words afterward, saying the team “got embarrassed” as the Bruins out‑rebounded and out‑physicaled them while making the winning plays. UCLA’s numbers backed that up: The Bruins shot 55.6% from the field and 48.1% from 3‑point range, taking a 44–33 halftime lead and extending it to 15 early in the second half.
Fears nearly willed Michigan State back on his own. He finished with 21 points and 13 assists, breaking the Spartans’ single‑season assists record with 294 and surpassing Cassius Winston’s previous mark. Still, he took full responsibility for the loss, saying he “didn’t guard the ball” and “didn’t do my part today.” His penetration and playmaking fueled multiple MSU runs, including a push that cut the Bruins’ lead to 80–78 in the final minute. Sophomore guard Kur Teng and senior center Carson Cooper each scored 13 points, helping the Spartans shoot 45.2% overall and 47.8% from deep, but every MSU surge met a UCLA answer.
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(CONTINUED) UCLA’s guard play proved decisive. Senior guard Donovan Dent posted 23 points and 12 assists, and sophomore Trent Perry added 22 points, including late free throws that sealed the win. Fears credited the Bruins for executing, saying, “When you do what you’re supposed to do, good things happen.” He noted that nothing UCLA ran caught MSU off guard, it was the Spartans’ lack of intensity that hurt them. “The plays wasn’t what beat us, it was the energy, the effort,” he said.
When the locker room settled, Fears shifted the focus inward. “Everything has to change, you can’t come out here and get out‑rebounded and miss layups and open shots. We gotta guard somebody,” he said. He stressed that responsibility falls on players, not the coaching staff: “This is players’ responsibility, I didn’t do my part tonight.” With one guaranteed game left,Fears kept his plan simple: “You get better. You practice, you get better. And you come back hungry.” For Michigan State, salvaging March starts with the honesty their captain showed after the loss.
