Kennedy Blair Shines as No. 13/15 Michigan State Outlasts USC in Breslin Boom Night Battle
EAST LANSING, Mich. - On a night when the energy in the Breslin Center matched the stakes, Michigan State leaned on its depth, defense, and a breakout performance from Kennedy Blair to edge past a gritty USC squad, 74-68.
The Spartans, now 18-2 overall and 7-2 in Big Ten play, didn’t have it easy. USC came in with a chip on its shoulder and made Michigan State earn every bit of this win. But when it mattered most, the Spartans found another gear-and Blair was the engine.
The redshirt sophomore guard delivered her fourth 20-point game of the season, dropping 21 points while adding six rebounds and five steals-a career high. Blair’s performance wasn’t just about scoring; she was everywhere. Her defensive instincts led to key takeaways, and her poise in crunch time helped MSU stay composed during USC’s furious fourth-quarter rally.
Grace VanSlooten nearly posted a double-double, finishing with 16 points and nine boards, while also dishing out a team-high three assists. The senior forward was instrumental early, setting the tone with her physicality inside and her ability to finish through contact. Rashunda Jones added 16 points of her own, and Inés Sotelo looked back to her usual self with 12 points and seven rebounds in a strong all-around showing.
USC didn’t go quietly. Kara Dunn led the Trojans with 23 points and was a constant threat, especially during a second-quarter stretch where the Spartans’ offense went cold. Michigan State missed 11 of its final 12 shots in the second period, and USC took full advantage, heading into halftime with a 37-36 lead.
That second quarter was a wake-up call for MSU. After jumping out to a 24-17 lead in the first quarter-thanks to balanced scoring from VanSlooten, Jones, and Sotelo-the Spartans suddenly found themselves on their heels. USC’s defense tightened, and Londynn Jones gave the Trojans their first lead with a deep three.
But Michigan State responded like a veteran squad. The third quarter was a tug-of-war, with neither team able to pull away. The Spartans finally broke through with a late 6-0 run, capped by a Jones layup that gave them a 53-49 lead heading into the fourth.
That lead didn’t last long. MSU opened the final frame with an 8-0 burst, stretching the margin to 64-52-their first double-digit lead since the opening quarter. But just as quickly, USC stormed back with a 10-0 run in just 42 seconds, slicing the lead to two and setting up a tense final stretch.
That’s when Blair stepped up once again. With under two minutes to play, she converted a three-point play the old-fashioned way, pushing the lead back to five and swinging momentum back to the Spartans. From there, Michigan State took care of business at the free-throw line, closing out a hard-fought win in front of a raucous home crowd.
Defense was the difference. The Spartans forced a season-high 24 turnovers and recorded 14 steals-five of them from Blair alone. That defensive pressure was relentless and ultimately wore down a USC team that simply couldn’t protect the ball under duress.
Next up, Michigan State hits the road for a Big Ten clash against Purdue on Jan. 29. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network, and if the Spartans bring the same grit and balance they showed Thursday night, they’ll be tough to beat.
This was a win that showed MSU’s depth, toughness, and ability to respond to adversity-traits that will serve them well as the Big Ten race heats up.