Michigan State Opens Big Ten Play with Dominant Win Over Iowa, Despite Missing Key Pieces
Michigan State tipped off its Big Ten campaign Tuesday night with a convincing 71-52 win over Iowa at the Breslin Center. And while the scoreboard tells one story, the bigger picture is about how the Spartans handled adversity - and did it with authority.
Before the ball even went up, MSU was already in a tough spot. Freshman standout Cam Ward was ruled out just before game time with a wrist injury, leaving the Spartans short-handed in the frontcourt.
Then, early foul trouble sidelined Carson Cooper, who struggled out of the gate and never quite found his rhythm. That meant Tom Izzo had to dig into his bench early and often - and the young guys answered the call.
Early Struggles, Then a Surge
The first few minutes were shaky, especially for Cooper. In MSU’s first four possessions, he missed an alley-oop, a layup, turned the ball over, and lost it out of bounds going for an offensive board.
Add two quick fouls to that, and Cooper was on the bench before the halfway mark of the first half. With both Ward and Cooper out, it looked like Iowa might have a chance to exploit the paint.
Instead, Michigan State flipped the script.
Iowa’s offense never got into gear after an early 5-0 lead. The Hawkeyes shot just 7-for-21 in the first half and were ice cold from deep, going 3-for-12.
More telling - they only took nine shots inside the arc and hit just four. Even with MSU’s frontcourt depleted, Iowa couldn’t generate anything near the rim.
Meanwhile, the Spartans took full advantage of Iowa’s foul trouble. MSU was in the bonus just eight minutes into the game and reached the double bonus before the 11-minute mark.
That meant free throws - lots of them. Michigan State went 11-for-12 at the line in the first half alone.
Jeremy Fears, as steady as ever, went 8-for-8 from the stripe en route to 10 first-half points.
By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, MSU had built a commanding 35-21 lead. Jaxon Kohler was quietly putting together a big night, with 8 points and 8 boards by the break. Coen Carr added six, including a pair of highlight-reel dunks, and the Spartans were dominating the glass, nearly doubling Iowa’s rebound total 19-10.
Cruise Control in the Second Half
The second half didn’t bring much drama - and that’s exactly how Michigan State wanted it. With the lead comfortably in hand, Izzo gave his bench extended run. Jeremy Fears got some extra rest, and interestingly, it was Denham Wojcik - not Divine Ugochukwu - who picked up most of the backup point guard minutes.
Iowa did manage to outscore its first-half total, but the game was never in doubt. MSU matched their first-half output and coasted to a 71-52 win, their second-lowest scoring total of the season - but one of their most efficient performances overall.
Carr led the way with 15 points, showing off his athleticism and finishing ability around the rim. Kohler finished with a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds), and Fears added 14 - 10 of those from the free-throw line - along with six assists. Not bad for a night when the offense wasn’t firing on all cylinders.
Three Things That Stood Out
1. Total Rebounding Domination
This was vintage Izzo basketball - physical, relentless, and dominant on the glass. The Spartans more than doubled up Iowa in rebounding, 37-18, and had a 13-6 edge on the offensive boards.
That translated into a massive 21-4 advantage in second-chance points. Even without Ward and with Cooper limited, MSU flexed its muscle inside.
That kind of rebounding effort is a game-changer in Big Ten play.
2. Young Guns Stepping Up
With the rotation stretched thin, the freshmen made the most of their minutes. Jesse McCulloch had a career-high nine points on 4-for-6 shooting, including a banked-in three that brought the Breslin crowd to life.
He looked poised in the paint, showing off a soft hook shot and good footwork. Jordan Scott matched his career high with six points and added five rebounds, three of them on the offensive glass, plus an assist and two steals.
Ugochukwu played a season-high 17 minutes and while he only scored two points, his defensive intensity stood out - he stayed in front of his man and made life tough for Iowa’s guards. These aren’t just garbage-time minutes; they’re signs of growth.
3. Jeremy Fears is Becoming a Star
Even on a night where his assist numbers were down, Jeremy Fears controlled the game. He’s showing the kind of leadership and decision-making that coaches dream about.
His ability to get to the line, manage the clock, and make smart plays in transition is setting him apart. One moment that stood out - after grabbing an offensive rebound, Fears pulled the ball back out to burn clock instead of forcing a shot.
That’s veteran-level awareness. He’s quickly becoming one of the top point guards in the country, and he’s doing it with poise, not flash.
Bonus: A New Era in East Lansing
Beyond the game itself, Tuesday felt like a turning point for Michigan State athletics. The “FOR SPARTA” campaign was officially launched earlier in the day, and by tip-off, it was already front and center at the Breslin Center.
New football coach Pat Fitzgerald was introduced to the crowd and took the mic to fire up the fans. It was a moment that hinted at a unified, energized athletic department under AD Alan Haller and President J.
Batt. There’s a new energy in East Lansing - and it’s starting to show both on and off the court.
Three Areas for Improvement
1. Finishing at the Rim
MSU left a few easy ones on the table. Cooper missed an alley-oop to open the game, and Carr couldn’t finish a breakaway dunk in the second half.
Those are plays that don’t just boost the scoreboard - they energize the team and the crowd. Fears could’ve had a couple more assists if those finishes had gone down.
The Spartans will want to clean that up heading into tougher matchups.
2. A Forgettable Night for Cooper
There’s no sugarcoating it - this wasn’t Cooper’s night. Early foul trouble took him out of rhythm, and he never really got going.
He’s had bounce-back second halves before, but this time, it just didn’t happen. He was steady in his minutes, but the impact wasn’t there.
MSU will need more from him moving forward, especially with Ward's status still uncertain.
3. Trey Fort's Quiet Outing
In 13 minutes of action, Trey Fort didn’t register a single stat outside of one foul. After moving from the starting lineup to the bench, it’s possible the change affected his confidence.
Michigan State doesn’t need him to be a star, but they do need him to be active and engaged. With Big Ten play heating up, depth matters - and Fort will be key in that rotation.
Bottom Line: Michigan State handled business. They were short-handed, they didn’t shoot the lights out, and yet they still cruised to a 19-point win to open conference play.
That’s the mark of a team that’s finding its identity - gritty, deep, and increasingly driven by the leadership of a rising star in Jeremy Fears. The road only gets tougher from here, but Tuesday night was a strong statement: the Spartans are ready for the fight.