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.”
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.
Izzo said UCLA presented a tough challenge with its three-point shooting, but his team responded well and turned good defensive possessions into scores on the other end.
“In general, that was maybe as good as we've played on both ends of the court, offense and defense,” Izzo said.
The three was all UCLA could manage against a defensive MSU. In the first half, MSU’s defense held the Bruins to 23 points, the lowest total through the first 20 minutes since USC scored 17 at Breslin Center on Jan. 5.
UCLA’s second-leading scorer entering Tuesday, Donovan Dent, was held to six points while guarded by Fears and Scott. The two have been the backbone of MSU’s defense, playing sound defense and fighting for rebounds whenever possible
In the Spartans' defensive domination, they missed few rebounds, rarely missed an assignment and most of all, closed out on the three-point shot, something that's plagued MSU in its past four games.
Turnover points continue to haunt MSU, though. Tonight, MSU committed 14 turnovers while UCLA converted 17 points on those opportunities.
A staple of Izzo-led teams, rebounding was a crucial part of MSU’s might on defense.
MSU missed very few rebounds against the smaller Bruins, allowing them to get out in transition even faster. UCLA starts one player over 6-foot-8 in former Spartan Xavier Booker. The height advantage was advantageous as MSU outrebounded UCLA 37-27.
Box outs were the spark of the offensive attack. MSU played inside its opponent and found the ball in the air with ease. Scott played a crucial role in rebounding outside of Jaxon Kohler’s 10 and Carson Cooper’s 7 boards. The freshman flew in from the wing to grab the rock multiple times while fighting for loose balls on the ground as well.
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Scott said he’s always been one to exert maximum effort and hopes he can continue that play style.
“I think I’ve always been a hustle player trying to make the effort plays,” Scott said. I just try to fight for the extra rebound, extra position, and dive on the floor.”
MSU found quick outlet passes after nearly every defensive rebound.
Fears led the way in transition, pushing the ball up the court in a sprint and looking for a bucket even when UCLA outnumbered MSU. What is typically a risky play — forcing the ball into a group of defenders — worked to Fears’ advantage. The floor general pressured UCLA in the backcourt and created mismatches with MSU’s pace.
The Spartans outscored UCLA 10-2 in fast-break points. This season, the Spartans are scoring 22% of their shots in transition, ranking No. 2 nationally. Additionally, MSU ranks fifth with 17.3 points per game on the break.
Izzo said the trio of defending, rebounding and running is essential in winning and operates conjointly.
“When we don't defend as well, and we don't, rebound as well, we don’t run as well,” Izzo said. “So, it kind of goes hand in hand.”
