Michigan Outlasts Michigan State in Rivalry Showdown, Snaps Spartans’ Win Streak
Sometimes, you’ve got to break through your own front door. That’s what Michigan State tried to do Friday night - force their way into a game that felt just out of reach from the jump. But against a surging Michigan squad ranked No. 3 in the country, the 7th-ranked Spartans found themselves locked out early and scrambling to catch up late.
In front of a packed Breslin Center, the energy was electric, but MSU couldn’t find the spark in the first half. Turnovers piled up, shots clanked off the rim, and the Wolverines took full advantage, building a lead that proved just enough to hold off a furious second-half charge. When the dust settled, Michigan walked out of East Lansing with an 83-71 win - their first victory at Breslin since 2018 - and a statement in a rivalry that rarely needs extra fuel.
The loss snapped Michigan State’s seven-game winning streak and dropped them to 19-3 overall, 9-2 in Big Ten play. Michigan, meanwhile, extended its own streak to six wins, improving to 20-1 and 10-1 in the conference. The rematch comes March 9 in Ann Arbor, and if Friday’s clash was any indication, round two could be even more intense.
A Tale of Two Halves
Michigan State’s opening 20 minutes were defined by frustration. The Spartans never led, and their offense sputtered right from the start.
Jeremy Fears Jr. drew a foul just 25 seconds in, but it was a false start rather than a tone-setter. By the time the first media timeout rolled around, MSU had as many turnovers (five) as points.
Michigan, on the other hand, came out sharp. The Wolverines jumped ahead 15-5 early and kept applying pressure.
A deep three from Trey McKenney and a strong finish by Morez Johnson Jr. pushed the lead to 20-7 midway through the half. MSU responded with a 10-2 burst, thanks in large part to Fears, but the momentum didn’t last.
The Spartans went over six minutes without a field goal late in the half, and Michigan capitalized, stretching the lead to 18 before a Jordan Scott-to-Coen Carr dunk at the buzzer trimmed it to 42-26 at the break.
At halftime, the stat sheet told the story: Michigan had hit 15 field goals (including five from deep), while MSU had just seven - and 11 turnovers to go with them. Fears had 12 points, but he was a one-man show. Yaxel Lendeborg led Michigan with 12 points and seven boards in the opening half.
The Comeback Attempt
The second half opened with a different energy. MSU head coach Tom Izzo shook up the lineup, inserting Jordan Scott, who immediately made an impact with a steal that led to a Carr dunk. That set the tone for a fast-paced, aggressive five-minute stretch where the Spartans poured in 15 points and cut the deficit to single digits.
Fears continued to lead the charge, getting to the rim, drawing contact, and setting up teammates. A pair of buckets from Jaxon Kohler brought MSU within three at 48-45.
Moments later, Scott’s three-point play cut it to two. The Spartans had life - and the crowd was back in it.
Michigan, to its credit, didn’t flinch. The Wolverines switched to a 2-3 zone, forcing a tough jumper from Fears, and LJ Cason answered with a three on the other end.
MSU responded again - Fears hit a mid-range jumper, Kohler nailed a three, and suddenly it was tied at 55 with under eight minutes to go. Fears followed that up with another bucket to give MSU its first lead of the night.
But rivalry games are rarely that simple.
The two teams traded blows down the stretch, neither able to gain much separation. For 10 straight minutes, the margin never exceeded five points.
Then, with just over three minutes left, Johnson powered home a dunk and Cadeau drilled a three to give Michigan a six-point edge. That sequence proved to be the turning point.
From there, Michigan closed the door. Johnson added a layup to push the lead to eight with 1:27 left, and MSU simply couldn’t mount another rally. The Wolverines held firm, snapping a four-game losing streak in the rivalry and putting themselves in the driver’s seat in the Big Ten title race.
Standouts and Stats
Jeremy Fears Jr. was nothing short of spectacular in the loss. The redshirt sophomore put together a career-high 31 points, adding seven assists and five rebounds in a performance that kept MSU afloat. He was aggressive, composed, and relentless - a bright spot in an otherwise uneven night for the Spartans.
Jaxon Kohler chipped in 12 points and five boards, while Carr and Scott each added 10. Scott, in particular, brought a spark in the second half, both defensively and in transition.
Michigan got a monster game from Yaxel Lendeborg, who finished with 26 points on 6-of-13 shooting and pulled down 12 rebounds. Cadeau added 17 points and six assists, while Johnson chipped in 10 points, including several key buckets down the stretch.
Looking Ahead
For Michigan State, this one will sting. The Spartans had a chance to defend their home court and extend their win streak, but a slow start and too many first-half mistakes proved costly. They’ll look to bounce back Wednesday on the road against Minnesota.
As for Michigan, this win is another notch in what’s shaping up to be a special season. They’ve now won six straight, including a statement road win in one of the toughest environments in college basketball. With the rematch looming in March, the Wolverines made it clear: the road to the Big Ten title goes through Ann Arbor - and they’re not backing down.