5 months ago
- Spartans
- Published: Dec. 29, 2025, 11:08 p.m.
EAST LANSING — Michigan State overcame a unsmooth commencement to decorativeness nonconference play connected a high.
Posting their highest constituent full successful a azygous crippled since 2008, nan No. 9 Spartans (12-1) nixed an upset bid from Cornell (6-6), 114-97, astatine nan Breslin Center Monday night.
Michigan State now moves into nan bulk of their Big Ten slate pinch conscionable 1 nonaccomplishment connected their grounds and a 114-point capacity successful nan rearview mirror.
Here are notable quotes from Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, Cornell coach Jon Jaques and MSU’s players pursuing nan game:
Izzo connected MSU’s up-and-down performance:
“After doing a miserable occupation astir of nan first half, I thought we did a phenomenal occupation astir of nan 2nd half and nether nan eight-minute timeout, they sewage 66 points. They’re 1-for-16 from nan 3 and past we fto them deed games conscionable truthful I could beryllium miserable and not slumber tonight. I mean, possibly I’m amended that way. But I was disappointed successful that.”
Jeremy Fears pursuing a career-high 21 points and 11 assists connected if he was ever worried erstwhile MSU went down by arsenic overmuch arsenic 11 points:
“No. I deliberation I played capable basketball, particularly here, and passim nan clip conscionable enactment composed... knowing that they came retired hot, came retired firing, they deed a couple, they seen thing spell done and conscionable benignant of set to really they play.”
Coen Carr, who led nan Spartans pinch 11 second-half points aft trailing for nan mostly of nan first half, connected nan mindset astatine halftime:
“Nobody was playing good. Everybody wasn’t playing really we practiced nan past mates days. And I conscionable was trying to onslaught nan handbasket erstwhile I sewage retired there, conscionable trying to get fouled, get immoderate free throws up, and conscionable benignant of alteration nan momentum of nan game. I consciousness for illustration I did a beautiful decent occupation astatine that.”
Jaques connected what makes Michigan State specified a reliable opponent:
“It’s benignant of for illustration a small prime your poison. They person really good, precocious major, talented players...Obviously, they’re bully shooters, but they’re also, for us, a earthy problem inside. We decidedly committed to trying to protect nan overgarment and unit them to make immoderate shots. And they made a fewer difficult ones and, yeah, springiness them credit. Obviously, they’re a really bully team.”
Jaxon Kohler, who had his eighth double-double of nan play pinch 11 points and 10 rebounds, connected Cornell:
“Shout retired to them, springiness them credit. They are dissimilar immoderate squad I’ve played successful nan 4 years that I’ve been here. They sprout nan heck retired of nan ball.”
Carr connected what changed defensively successful nan 2nd half for MSU:
“We conscionable had to guard. We were conscionable getting blown by and conscionable easy things that’s each effort and discipline.”
Izzo connected freshman Cameron Ward, who had 5 points and 4 rebounds disconnected nan bench, being physical:
“I deliberation for nan first clip I saw a small spot much grit, Cam went up and sewage a mates rebounds there. He was a man kid successful location and that’s what we need.”
Fears recalling his buzzer-beating coast-to-coast layup to return nan lead astatine nan extremity of nan first half:
“It was a small spot of luck, because I didn’t really sprout it. That helped.”
Izzo’s appraisal of nan team’s capacity astatine nan extremity of nonconference play:
“I dislike to admit it, but each coach puts down astir apt its schedule and he looks astatine nan best-case script and nan worst-case scenario. My champion lawsuit script astir apt would person been 11-2. My worst-case script would person astir apt been 9-4, 10-3. So I’m really excited connected wherever we are and I deliberation we’ve played bully capable against immoderate bully teams.”
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Jacob Richman is simply a sports newsman for MLive.com and covers pro and assemblage teams crossed Michigan. Before joining MLive, Jacob covered assemblage sports successful Texas astatine LoneStarLive.com pinch a attraction connected Texas A&M and...
