EAST LANSING — There comes a moment when an amalgamation of skill and prospect transforms into something more concrete. Michigan State basketball may have reached that pivotal moment. With a combination of precision and grit, of play-making and resilience, of ferocious offense and stifling defense, the 25th-ranked Spartans overcame Nebraska on Saturday afternoon, 89-52, at […]
EAST LANSING — There comes a moment when an amalgamation of skill and prospect transforms into something more concrete. Michigan State basketball may have reached that pivotal moment.
With a combination of precision and grit, of play-making and resilience, of ferocious offense and stifling defense, the 25th-ranked Spartans overcame Nebraska on Saturday afternoon, 89-52, at Breslin Center. It was one of the most systematic and forceful performances of basketball that Tom Izzo has witnessed in recent years — and possibly one of the most well-rounded displays in his 30-year tenure.
“I need to be cautious about how I phrase this, but I’ll say it anyway,” Izzo remarked. “For 26, (27, 28) years of my career here, what truly made you happy? Winning. … I believe this team derives happiness from winning.”
All 10 rotation players contributed with at least four points and secured a minimum of two rebounds, spearheaded by 18 points from Jaden Akins and 16 from Jase Richardson. The support extended further, with Jaxon Kohler hauling down 12 of MSU’s commanding 48 rebounds compared to Nebraska’s 19.
Xavier Booker registered 11 points and six rebounds. Kohler, Tre Holloman, and Coen Carr each added eight points. The Spartans shot an impressive 22-for-23 at the charity stripe and held a 17-3 advantage in second-chance points along with an 18-7 lead on fast breaks. Jeremy Fears Jr. dished out eight assists as MSU recorded 20 assists on 29 successful shots.
“It’s just about us hitting our rhythm, honestly,” Richardson stated. “It’s a lengthy season. It’s not a sprint, but a marathon. Ultimately, we want to be the top team in March. So, it’s about us finding our groove right now, and I believe the combinations we used tonight were phenomenal.”After starting the previous season with two conference defeats, the Spartans (8-2, 2-0 Big Ten) kicked off this season with consecutive Big Ten triumphs for the first time since 2021-22. They will not play again until Dec. 17 when they face Oakland at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit (7 p.m., ESPN2). They won’t resume Big Ten competition until Jan. 3 against Ohio State, following two remaining nonconference home matchups against Florida Atlantic on Dec. 21 and Western Michigan on Dec. 30. Andrew Morgan contributed 14 points and Brice Williams scored 11 for Nebraska (6-2, 0-1), which struggled with a shooting percentage of just 33.3% overall and 28.6% in the second half as MSU widened the gap.”Coach Izzo has his squad playing with considerable confidence at this moment,” remarked Huskers coach Fred Hoiberg. “Their physicality was overwhelming for us tonight, and that was crucial. They dominated us on the boards.”No fear for FearsThe momentum MSU generated in Minnesota on Wednesday, leading to an 18-point victory to start Big Ten play, transitioned smoothly into Saturday’s game.Fears sustained the impressive ball movement and court awareness he and the Spartans have demonstrated recently, setting up Holloman for a 3-pointer to kick things off and finding Szymon Zapala for a layup after the big man’s tap-out rebound preserved possession. This initiated a 7-0 run in the first 2½ minutes. The Huskers responded and equalized at 11-all, but MSU then launched a 24-11 surge over nearly nine minutes that featured two separate 9-0 runs. Akins ignited the first run with a 3-pointer and two free throws, while the second was sparked by a remarkable assist from Fears on an alley-oop to Carr that both astonished and energized the Breslin crowd when they processed what transpired.
Richardson tallied seven of his nine first-half points in a brief span, with a pair of free throws at 3:29 before halftime extending the Spartans’ lead to 15. But Nebraska answered with a 9-0 run of their own. Williams’ follow-up 3-pointer, after it appeared MSU had secured a stop, led Izzo to call a timeout with 1:15 remaining in the period.
Out of it, Kohler managed a tip-in basket, and then Fears located the junior center once more for a layup just before the halftime buzzer to place the Spartans ahead, 41-31. Akins and Richardson each netted nine points, while Kohler and Carr both put up six. MSU commanded a 24-10 advantage on the boards and a 20-10 scoring margin in the paint, which included 10 second-chance points against Williams’ sole 3 for Nebraska. The Spartans also went a perfect 12-for-12 at the free throw line and registered nine assists on their 13 baskets, with six of those assists coming from Fears.”Coaches emphasize passing, promoting movement, and ensuring everyone gets touches,” Fears stated. “When the ball shifts side to side, clearly good things unfold.”
Second-half domination
Izzo expressed his dissatisfaction after MSU’s victory at Minnesota due to his team’s inability to deliver a decisive blow upon gaining a double-digit lead.
Three days later, he got that — and more.
The Spartans overwhelmed the Cornhuskers with a suffocating second-half defensive effort, combined with excellent ball movement and precise shooting, both from long range and in the paint. As clichéd as it is to say, it was an absolute team performance.
Akins knocked down a 3-pointer to ignite a dominating run that MSU has not seen in years, a staggering 25-1 stretch that dueled across nearly eight minutes early in the second half. Akins sank another 3 during that span, but seven different players contributed points during that run.
“You are aware of the recipe against Michigan State. It’s akin to playing Nebraska football from back in the day. You know what they are going to do; now, stop it,” declared Hoiberg, whose son Jack played for Izzo and the Spartans. “Michigan State will play fast and crash the boards. At times, you just have to go out and win the war, win the battle.”
Defensively, the Spartans kept the Cornhuskers without a field goal for an 8:36 stretch — 12 consecutive missed attempts — turning a 10-point lead with 18:37 remaining into a 68-34 rout, highlighted by consecutive 3-pointers from Holloman and Booker midway through the final chapter.
“We analyzed the Minnesota game and previous contests, where we entered the second half but didn’t maintain our performance,” Izzo remarked. “We aimed to avoid exchanging baskets (against Nebraska). There were moments when that was a critical battle cry from the team — not the coach — which is signaling progress toward the right direction.”
Booker tallied all 11 of his points in the second half as the Spartans shot 61.5% and drained 6 of 11 from beyond the arc following halftime.
“If this team hits their shots,” Hoiberg remarked concerning MSU, “they could be incredibly dangerous.”
Contact Chris Solari:csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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