Michigan State men’s basketball vs. UConn was exactly as advertised — a defensive, low-scoring bout that proved one team elite.
It wasn’t MSU. The Spartans will now live with the 67-63 defeat that ended their season, stemming from an early deficit.
MSU kept the game close throughout the second half, taking a slim lead at times. The Spartans never built on those leads though — a stark reminder that this year’s team never had the pure talent to reach a Final Four. By the end, seniors Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper left the court for the final time, waving goodbye and giving thanks to Spartan fans.
The only team in the Sweet Sixteen that started only its homegrown talent, Michigan State was a group that head coach Tom Izzo said has been special to coach.
“They showed me a lot of character,” Izzo said. “They showed me a lot of why I love them and why it's so important to me to have relationships with guys. That's the most I got out of tonight.”
In a battle of two of the nation’s best backcourts, one benefited more from its offense. UConn came out to one of its hottest starts of the season. The Huskies hit an unorthodox number of three-pointers for a team that averages 34.9% from deep. The 2025-26 Spartans didn’t look ready for the moment, and it came to punch them in the mouth as soon as the ball tipped.
Looking to next season and beyond, Izzo said the goal is still a national championship before he retires.
“I'm feeling good, why? They’ll talk about retirement. Why? What the hell am I gonna do?” Izzo said. The minute I don't feel good, the minute I don't feel like I'm getting my athletic director or president or school, every ounce of energy I have every day, or that energy drops — you don't have to worry about it.”
UConn’s Tarris Reed Jr. finished as the game’s leading scorer, adding to a historic tournament résumé with 61 points and 45 rebounds in three games. For MSU, Cooper led the way with 14 points, followed by three others in double figures. MSU’s core four combined for 52 points, accounting for 82.5% of the team’s total. The Spartans’ bench shot 2-for-11, while Kur Teng missed three shots from beyond the arc.
All season, MSU hasn’t gotten the needed production out of its bench to win tough games. Tonight, it reared its head again due to a lack of experience in the postseason. The five players outside the core four have a combined two years of NCAA Tournament history and four minutes of game time across two games.
