It started when senior forward Frankie Fidler posted on his Instagram story that he was heading to IM East to get some runs in.

A group of football players arrived first, running a game on one court. Soon after, members of the basketball team walked in and began hooping on the court next to them. After a few possessions, the two squads merged for a spontaneous matchup that quickly caught the attention of students in the gym.

Before facing off, both teams joined pickup games already in progress with other students.

Moments like these bring the campus together and remind people that student athletes are regular people too, freshman forward Jesse McCulloch said.

But it didn’t stay casual for long.

At one point, sophomore forward Coen Carr threw down a dunk that echoed through the gym. Within minutes, more students had gathered, and the games became the talk of IM East.

“I think the more interactions we all have together, the more culture it builds, and I think that culture in a school is really special,” freshman special education and elementary education major Grace Stapleton said.

For the players, it was a chance to step away from structured practices and just enjoy the game. With no pressure, no coaches and no fans in the stands — just students on the sidelines — it offered a more personal way to connect with the MSU community.

“We are just regular students like everyone else, just with a little more responsibility,” Fidler said. “Just to come out here and feel like we’re part of the school like everyone else, is big.”

While the game wasn’t scheduled, the energy inside IM East made it feel like a planned event. Students who came just to shoot around or play with friends ended up watching two of MSU’s most visible teams share the court — something rarely seen outside of Breslin or Spartan Stadium.

Even as players competed, the vibe stayed lighthearted. There were laughs after missed shots, high-fives between teams and plenty of playful trash talk. For a moment, it felt less like a battle between programs and more like a campus-wide pickup run.

“I feel like it’s really fun to see them around campus and you always get excited,” sophomore kinesiology major Lilli McGuire said, “But then when they have stuff like this, it makes them feel like they’re normal students.”

The spontaneity is what made the game feel special. No tickets. No announcements. Just an Instagram story, some word of mouth and athletes showing up to play.

Word spread quickly across the gym as students began gathering near the court. Some pulled out their phones, others just stood and watched as Jeremy Fears’ ball-handling and crossovers turned a regular night into something more memorable.

The night served as a reminder that athletes aren’t just names on a roster — they’re classmates, neighbors and part of the campus community.

“I’m actually a really nice kid. I'm open to talk to anyone,” redshirt sophomore wide receiver Evan Boyd said. “I'm not some closed-off weirdo.”

On Wednesday night, all it took was a gym and a few basketballs to bring MSU’s campus a little closer together.