MSU basketball survives upset scare, beats Rutgers on senior day
· Yahoo Sports
Michigan State didn't make it easy, but they survived another scare from the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Visit goldparty.lat for more information.
Michigan State got off to a rocky start, but things took a turn for the better in the second half for the Spartans. However, a late rally from the Scarlet Knights resulted in some nervous final seconds in the 91-87 Michigan State victory.
Michigan State couldn't have played a much worse opening half, but somehow found themselves up at the break. The Spartans committed 10 first half turnovers -- which was nearly as many made field goals (11) -- in the first half, but was able to sink a pair of free throws by Coen Carr in the final seconds to take a 31-30 lead into the break.
The Spartans came out firing in the second half and quickly ballooned their lead to double-digits within five minutes. Michigan State would lead by 19 points with roughly six minutes to go, but that's when Rutgers would mount a near improbably comeback. The Scarlet Knights dug all the way into that lead to make it a one-possession game with three seconds remaining. Jeremy Fears Jr. needed to knock down a pair of free throws to clinch the game in the final seconds.
While the defense was lacking on Thursday, Michigan State got impressive offensive performances from a number of players. Fears and Carr both finished the night with 21 points to lead the Spartans in scoring, and seniors Kohler (15 points) and Cooper (14 points) also finished the night with double-digit point totals in the win.
With the win, Michigan State improves to 25-5 overall and 15-4 in Big Ten play. The win on Thursday locks up a triple bye for the Spartans in the Big Ten Tournament, and they'll now finish with either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed next week.
Michigan State will wrap up the regular season with a road rivalry game at Michigan on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff from the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. is scheduled fro 4:30 p.m. ET and will be televised on CBS.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: MSU basketball survives upset scare, beats Rutgers on senior day