MSU is a team defined by its culture. For more than 30 years, head coach Tom Izzo has enjoyed abundant success with a simple motto: defend, rebound, and run.

MSU leaned into the three-word mantra to dominate UCLA from the start, cruising to an 82-59 win. 

If you watch the Spartans practice, you’ll see a black billboard with the same motto, reminding each player why they play for Izzo and MSU. The result was simple Tuesday night: UCLA was out-defended, out-rebounded, and out-ran.

After the game, Izzo said it’s been the team’s philosophy for as long as he’s been the coach. Tonight, it came to fruition.

“Everybody's got a style,” Izzo said. “Some people are just shooting three. Some people are walking the ball up, and ours is to defend, rebound and run, and it's worked most years.”

Six Spartans scored nine or more points in the victory, with Jeremy Fears Jr. and Coen Carr leading the way with 16 each. Carson Cooper added 12 points and seven rebounds, making two field goals and shooting 8-for-9 from the line. In his fourth start, Jordan Scott was perfect from beyond the arc, hitting four of five shots for 11 points.

The win capped a stretch of frustration and the hope for improvement after three losses in four games. Izzo said the season is full of ups and downs, and it’s important to catch fire at the right time.

“Now, in this stretch run, you gotta win games,” Izzo said. “We gotta get better each game.”

Defend

Any fears of MSU’s elite defense slipping away in its past four games were silenced against UCLA. MSU held the Bruins to 41.4% shooting with limited options besides the three-ball, which UCLA is comfortable with.