Lansing Sun

Michigan State University's men's basketball team is set to face Florida Atlantic University on Saturday, December 21, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. The game will be broadcast live on FS1, with Jeff Levering and LaPhonso Ellis providing commentary. Fans can also listen to the Spartan Media Network radio call via MSUSpartans.com, SiriusXM channel 384, or the SiriusXM app. Will Tieman will handle play-by-play duties alongside color analyst Matt Steigenga, with Zach Surdenik as the studio host.

The Spartans enter the matchup with a 9-2 record overall and a 2-0 record in the Big Ten Conference. They are ranked No. 20 in the NCAA Net Rankings and No. 18 by both KenPom.com and ESPN's Basketball Power Index (BPI). The team recently secured a victory against Oakland with sophomore forward Xavier Booker achieving a career-high of 18 points.

This upcoming game marks only the second home appearance for Michigan State this month after traveling extensively for previous games and an overseas trip to Spain in August. The Spartans have shown depth in their lineup with senior guard Jaden Akins leading at 13.4 points per game, supported by other key players such as freshman guard Jase Richardson and junior forward Jaxon Kohler.

Florida Atlantic comes into Saturday's game with a 7-5 record following consecutive wins against Florida International, Jacksonville, and Texas State. Under new Head Coach John Jakus, who previously worked at Baylor and Gonzaga, FAU has integrated ten new players into their roster while returning three from last season.

Saturday's contest marks only the second time these teams have met historically. Michigan State won their first encounter during the season opener of the 2015-16 season.

Michigan State's approach this season emphasizes "strength in numbers," evident from their balanced scoring distribution and extensive player rotation during games under Head Coach Tom Izzo.