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Sports | Basketball

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU women’s basketball drops road test vs. No. 11 Iowa

Tyler Gaylord
January 19, 2026

Michigan State women’s basketball walked into one of the Big Ten’s toughest road environments knowing it would be tested. Early foul trouble disrupted the Spartans’ rhythm, forcing key players to the bench and leaving MSU playing catch-up the rest of the night. Despite a stronger second half and a late push led by Rashunda Jones, Michigan State could not overcome its first-half deficit, falling 75-68 to No. 11 Iowa. The loss snapped a nine-game winning streak and highlighted the thin margin for error when facing elite opponents on the road.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU women’s basketball grinds out 73-71 win over No. 24 Nebraska

Tyler Gaylord
January 16, 2026

Michigan State survived a thrilling late-game showdown with No. 24 Nebraska, edging the Cornhuskers 73-71 to secure a program-best 17-1 start. Junior guard Rashunda Jones and sophomore forward Juliann Woodard delivered clutch free throws in the final seconds, while senior guard Jalyn Brown made two critical defensive stops and hit a game-tying 3-pointer to keep the Spartans in control. Despite struggling from beyond the arc, MSU found ways to win, highlighting depth, resilience, and the advantage of playing at home under head coach Robyn Fralick’s dominant 35-4 record at the Breslin Center. The victory sets the stage for a road test Sunday against No. 11 Iowa in Iowa City.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Fears struggles from field as MSU falls to No. 4 Duke

Lucas Gentilia
December 6, 2025

MSU struggled offensively as starting guards Jeremy Fears Jr. and Kur Teng combined for 0-for-15 from the field, though Fears contributed 13 assists and perfect free-throw shooting. Senior center Carson Cooper led the way with 16 points and 16 rebounds, supported by Jaxon Kohler and Coen Carr, but the Spartans’ scoring woes prevented them from gaining an edge.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU basketball falls to Duke and its late-game zone defense

Kaspar Haehnle
December 6, 2025

Michigan State battled Duke in a back-and-forth game but ultimately fell 66–60 after struggling late on offense and failing to counter Duke’s effective zone defense. Despite strong individual efforts — including Cooper’s standout defense on Cameron Boozer — the Spartans couldn’t maintain their early rhythm, leaving them close, but not close enough.

MEN'S BASKETBALL

MSU jumps to No. 11 in AP Poll before Fort Myers Tip-Off

Lucas Gentilia
November 24, 2025

Michigan State men’s basketball, now ranked No. 11 after wins over Kentucky and Detroit Mercy, is set for the Fort Myers Tip-Off, where it will face East Carolina and No. 16 North Carolina. With ECU entering at No. 244 in KenPom and UNC led by standout freshman Caleb Wilson, the Spartans will return home afterward to host Iowa on Dec. 2 and Duke on Dec. 6.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Blair’s 25-point career day surges MSU women's basketball to 6-0 start

Tyler Gaylord
November 23, 2025

Behind a dominant 102-41 win over Oakland was a career night from Kennedy Blair and a continued defensive dominance. The redshirt sophomore poured in 25 points in just three quarters, fueling a second-quarter explosion that erased an uneven start and showcased why this Michigan State team thrives on pressure and pace. While questions lingered early around MSU’s offensive consistency and Grace VanSlooten’s health, the Spartans’ depth, defensive intensity and Blair’s all-around performance highlighted a group beginning to find its rhythm ahead of a challenging stretch on the road.