Michigan State at their best in dominant win over UCLA
· Yahoo Sports
Michigan State started this one off with strong defense and forced UCLA into some tough midrange shots that they somehow got to fall early before a Jordan Scott three got the Spartans on the board. Coen Carr welcomed Xavier Booker back to the Breslin Center with a quick baseline dunk with an assist from Jaxon Kohler. After a corner three by UCLA to take the lead, Kohler responded with a layup and three-pointer of his own to help MSU take a 12-9 lead after the first TV timeout.
Visit milkshakeslot.com for more information.
Jeremy Fears opened up after the break with a top of the key three that pushed MSU into an 8-0 run. Skyy Clark, shooting 49% from three on the season, stopped the run with his own long ball. Kohler pulled out his best Dirk Nowitzki impression with a post fade and Dirk leg kick that he got to fall from 15 feet. Jaxon looked locked in early offensively.
Fears was able to knock down another three and then find Carr in transition shortly after which forced UCLA into a timeout halfway through the first half with a 22-12 Spartans lead. UCLA was the top three-point shooting team of the conference heading into this matchup, but MSU was forcing them into tough shots.
UCLA had to call another timeout after Fears hit a midrange jumper and almost created a Sportscenter Top 10 highlight with a lob to Coen Carr who missed the dunk, but the rebound found Trey Fort in rhythm for a wide open three-pointer. Michigan State would hold a 27-12 lead heading into the 8-minute commercial break.
The Bruins would switch to a zone defense, but Jordan Scott knocked down a wide-open three that was nothin’ but net to push MSU to a 15-0 run. He was obviously feeling himself as he threw up a heat check on the next possession from the exact same spot and absolutely drilled it. Scott is solidifying himself as the starting SG of this roster.
UCLA went more than eight minutes without scoring before they finally got a layup to go. Carson Cooper was able to put the ball on the floor for a crafty finish and got the and-one free throw to fall to give MSU a 36-14 lead.
Fears continued his red hot first half with his third three-pointer from the top of the key that pushed him into double-digits. UCLA’s sharpshooter Clark found another corner three to fall before Michigan State entered halftime with a 20 point lead over UCLA in a 43-23 game.
Fears led the way at the half with 11 points on 3-for-5 shooting from deep while also adding five assists. Both Carson Cooper and Jordan Scott had nine points each while Kohler had seven points and seven rebounds. Fears, Cooper, and Scott were all on double-double watch heading into the second half.
It took no time before seeing Coen Carr’s next athletic feat which was a monster chase down block off the glass. That feat would be overshadowed by him fouling a UCLA player for an and-one on a corner three the next possession. Fears was able to get MSU going on offense after Kohler found him for his fourth three of the night. Carr would get a midrange jumper to fall before taking a 50-29 lead after the first TV timeout of the second half.
UCLA got another corner three to fall immediately after the break, but Kur Teng responded with one of his own and it was Michigan State’s 10th three of the night. Teng would follow that up with another three before Fears would steal the ball on the next UCLA possession and find Carr on a lob for a two-handed hammer in transition.
Tyler Bilodeau would get another three to go from the corner for the Bruins and Coen Carr would respond with another midrange jumper. If he can’t get them to fall from deep, at least he’s getting to a spot on the floor he’s more comfortable. Kur Teng would find Kohler for a quick post hook before Cam Ward found Teng for MSU’s 12th three of the night. Michigan State would take a 69-41 lead with eight minutes left in the game.
Go figure it’s Coen Carr who gets the season-high 13th three to fall, assisted by Jeremy Fears. After making only eight threes last game against Wisconsin, MSU had 13 made threes with seven minutes still left in the game.
Tom Izzo called a timeout after a quick 5-0 run by UCLA after some poor halfcourt defense and a turnover. Izzo would draw up an off-ball three for Carr who would knock down another for MSU. A hard foul on Carson Cooper saw UCLA coach Mick Cronin immediately send Steven Jamerson II to the locker room before the refs could even assign him a flagrant foul.
Before heading into the final TV timeout, Coen Carr had one of the most impressive blocks I’ve ever seen. It looked like he jumped over the player while also skying in the air to smack the ball off the backboard.
This Coen Carr block 😳 @MSU_Basketball
— Big Ten Men's Basketball (@B1GMBBall) February 18, 2026
📺: Peacock pic.twitter.com/n3y0Jhudij
Michigan State would finish this one with a dominant 82-59 win. They shot 53% from the field, 52% from deep, and 91% from the line. They made 15 twos compared to their 14 threes. It was the most threes made for MSU since February 2023 when they made 16.
Jeremy Fears and Coen Carr would lead the way for the Spartans with 16 points each. Fears added 10 assists and hit a career-high four three-pointers. Carr had a slow first half, but finished shooting 7-for-11 from the field and 2-for-4 from deep.
Carson Cooper had 12 points and seven rebounds, Jordan Scott added 11 points on 3-for-3 shooting from deep, and Jaxon Kohler had nine points and 10 rebounds. Teng added nine points from three threes off the bench.
This was the response needed after the Wisconsin game. This team looks ready to compete for a championship when the jump shots are falling. They defended well against the best three-point shooting team in the conference and held them to shooting 8-for-25 from beyond the arc. It looked like UCLA didn’t want any part in this one and it’ll be a long flight back to LA.
Michigan State next hosts Ohio State for a Sunday matinee at the Breslin Center.
Go Green.