Michigan State seems to have learned their lesson from Friday's tough loss to Wisconsin, and they applied it with precision against UCLA. The Spartans came out firing from beyond the arc, building a commanding 21-point lead just 14 minutes into the game at Breslin Center. It was a strategy reminiscent of Wisconsin’s playbook, and it worked wonders as MSU cruised to an 82-59 victory on their home court.
After a nail-biting loss to UCLA last year, this rematch was competitive for only about six minutes. MSU seized control with a blistering 26-3 run in the first half, leaving the Bruins scoreless for over eight minutes. UCLA managed to cut the deficit to 16 early in the second half, but MSU quickly widened the gap, stretching their lead to as much as 31 points.
This win boosts MSU to 21-5 overall and 11-4 in Big Ten play, while UCLA drops to 17-9 and 9-6 in the league. The Spartans were on fire from downtown, hitting a season-high 14 three-pointers.
Jeremy Fears Jr. led the charge with four treys, setting a new career-high, while also dishing out 10 assists for a double-double. Coen Carr matched Fears with 16 points, and Carson Cooper added 12 points and seven rebounds.
Jordan Scott chipped in with 11 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
UCLA’s Tyler Bilodeau put up 22 points and six rebounds, but it wasn't enough to keep the Bruins in the game. Former MSU forward Xavier Booker, now with UCLA, had a quiet return with just two points and two rebounds. Skyy Clark was the only other Bruin in double figures with 12 points.
UCLA initially took a 4-0 lead, but MSU quickly found their rhythm. Scott's early three-pointer got the Spartans on the board, and they never looked back.
Kohler's offensive prowess and Fears' sharpshooting helped MSU surge ahead, forcing UCLA to call a timeout as the Spartans built a 22-12 advantage. By halftime, MSU was up 43-23, dominating the boards with a 21-9 rebounding edge and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities.
Bilodeau's four-point play opened the second half, but Fears answered right back with his fourth three-pointer, setting the tone for the rest of the game. The Spartans continued to keep the Bruins at bay with contributions from Kur Teng and Cam Ward. A 10-0 run, featuring back-to-back threes from Teng and Carr, pushed MSU's lead to 31 points.
UCLA made a brief seven-point run late in the game, but Carr's three-pointer halted their momentum, securing MSU's comfortable victory. The Spartans even had the luxury of experimenting with Scott at point guard before giving walk-on Nick Sanders some playing time in the final minutes.
Up next, the Spartans will host Ohio State at home on Sunday for a 1 p.m. tip-off on CBS.