Points came fast and often at Breslin Center on Friday night, and Michigan State made sure Northern Iowa never had much room to breathe.
No. 5 Michigan State rolled to a 106-72 win over the Panthers, leaning on an explosive start and then a record-setting night from deep. The Spartans knocked down 18 three-pointers, the most in program history, while Jeremy Fears Jr. finished with 24 points and nine assists and Jasiah Jervis added 20 points of his own.
The win pushed Michigan State to 4-0, and the Spartans should be no lower than third when the AP Poll comes out Monday afternoon. Next up is a road trip to face No. 11 Tennessee on Tuesday.
Michigan State looked ready from the jump, which mattered given the circumstances. Friday’s game came right after the Duke win and right before the Tennessee matchup, making it an obvious letdown spot and a lookahead spot at the same time.
Tom Izzo said Thursday the team dealt with travel issues returning from Chicago and didn’t get back to East Lansing until 3 a.m. Friday, which left them with a lighter day during the first part of a two-day prep.
None of that showed early.
By the first media timeout, the game already felt like it was tilting heavily toward Michigan State. The Spartans came out with more edge than expected, and some of that was the shotmaking, but the energy was there too.
Northern Iowa was not just filler on the schedule either. The Panthers made the NCAA Tournament last season as a 12 seed, and even with a different roster this year, they entered at No. 144 in KenPom.
That’s the kind of opponent most high-majors steer clear of unless there’s a real reason to play them.
Northern Iowa did make things interesting for a stretch. After falling behind by 24, the Panthers cut the margin to 11 in the second half when Michigan State’s defense got loose for a bit. The Spartans never let it turn into a real problem, though, and a 23-1 run starting around the middle of the second half slammed the door shut.
The first half was its own kind of mess, with 33 fouls called in the opening 20 minutes. That meant a constant stop-start rhythm and a game that never really settled into a flow. There were whistles everywhere, free throws everywhere, and not much reason for anyone to enjoy the pace of it.
Once the game opened up, Michigan State’s shooting became the story. The Spartans weren’t just hot; they were creative with it.
Jordan Scott buried a pull-up three, and Jervis knocked down a catch-and-shoot moving three early in the second half. That kind of shotmaking turned a comfortable lead into a runaway.
Michigan State won’t shoot like this every night, but Friday showed exactly why the Spartans can be so dangerous when it does happen. Even if the defense isn’t sharp, the three-point barrage gives them a way to blow games open fast.
In Other News...
FAA Grounding Suddenly Puts One Michigan Team In A Tough Spot
The Federal Aviation Administrations grounding of flights across the U.S. has created an unexpected wrinkle for several Michigan sports teams, but Michigan State football is the one suddenly facing the most uncertainty. With Washington still in Seattle, the Spartans upcoming game against the Huskies is now in doubt, turning what should have been a routine week of preparation into a travel problem with real scheduling implications.
Around the state, other teams have already managed to get where they need to be or are sitting tight without immediate travel concerns, including the University of Michigan football and basketball teams, the Detroit Lions, Pistons and Red Wings. For Michigan State, though, the situation is more precarious because the opponents departure remains unresolved, leaving the Spartans waiting to see whether the matchup can stay on track. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Lets Another Big Ten Title Slip Away Late
Michigan State came within a whisker of another Big Ten title before Purdue turned the championship game into a late heartbreak. The No. 3 Spartans battled back from deficits to force overtime, showing the same resilience that carried them through the tournament, but Purdue had the final answer in a 4-3 win that ended on Jaiden Andersons golden goal in the 97th minute.
Grace Millers nine saves helped keep Purdue alive through the pressure, and the Boilermakers made the most of their chances when it mattered most. Even in defeat, Michigan State had two players recognized for their work over the weekend, with Bella Najera and Renee Watson earning spots on the All-Tournament Team. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan States Blowout Raised A Bigger Question Fans Still Feel
Michigan States 106-72 rout of Northern Iowa had the kind of offensive pop that can make a November box score look like a statement. The Spartans buried a program-record 18 three-pointers, and freshman Jasiah Jervis added another encouraging sign for the rotation with 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, giving the staff a glimpse of how much scoring punch this roster can generate when the shots are falling.
Still, the blowout did not settle the most obvious question hanging over the team. The center spot remains unsettled, with Anton Bonke, Ethan Taylor and McCulloch all getting run but none separating as the clear answer yet. For a team that just flashed so much perimeter firepower, the next layer of growth may depend on whether Michigan State can find a dependable presence in the middle before the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]