Lansing Sun

Michigan State University's men's basketball team is set to conclude its non-conference schedule for 2024 by hosting Western Michigan at the Breslin Center on Monday, December 30. The game, scheduled for a 3 p.m. tip-off, will be broadcast live on BTN with commentary from Jason Ross Jr. and Stephen Bardo. Additionally, the Spartan Media Network will provide radio coverage across the state and online.

The Spartans approach this match with a strong record of 10-2 overall and have maintained an undefeated start in Big Ten play. Their recent performance includes a decisive victory over Florida Atlantic, where sophomore Coen Carr scored a career-high 17 points. Over the past few months, Michigan State has been actively competing nationwide, accumulating significant travel mileage.

Michigan State's squad features depth and versatility with multiple players contributing substantially to their scoring efforts. Jaden Akins leads with an average of 13.3 points per game while Jase Richardson follows closely behind with nearly double figures in scoring.

On the other side of the court, Western Michigan arrives with a challenging season record of 3-8 after narrowly losing to Valparaiso in their latest outing. Despite their struggles, several players are delivering notable performances including junior guard Chansey Willis Jr., who leads his team in scoring.

Monday's matchup also marks a homecoming for Dwayne Stephens, Western Michigan's head coach and former Michigan State player and assistant coach under Tom Izzo.

Historically, Michigan State has dominated this series against Western Michigan with a record of 28-11 overall and an even stronger performance at home. The last encounter saw MSU securing a comfortable win over WMU at the Breslin Center in November 2021.