Lansing Sun

Michigan State's men's basketball team secured a victory against Northwestern, winning 78-68 at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Spartans, ranked 16th, established a strong lead early on, reaching a 23-point advantage in the first half and maintaining a 19-point lead at halftime.

Senior guard Jaden Akins led the scoring for Michigan State with 14 points, achieving a career milestone by surpassing the 1,000-point mark. Akins contributed significantly in the final minute by making six free throws. Redshirt freshman Jeremy Fears Jr. added 12 points and eight assists, while freshman guard Jase Richardson scored 13 points.

The Spartans extended their winning streak to nine games and improved their record to 14-2 overall and 5-0 in the Big Ten Conference. Northwestern's record fell to 10-6 overall and 1-4 in conference play.

Michigan State held off a late rally from Northwestern, who managed to reduce the deficit to nine points in the final minute of play. However, crucial free throws from Akins helped secure the win for Michigan State.

Throughout the game, Michigan State maintained effective shooting with a field goal percentage of 50%, while limiting Northwestern to just over 35% shooting accuracy. The Spartans also dominated rebounding with a seven-rebound advantage over their opponents.

Coach Tom Izzo achieved his first win at Northwestern since January 2022, further solidifying his impressive career record which now stands at 721 wins and 297 losses. He is approaching an all-time conference wins record as he needs six more victories to surpass former Indiana coach Bob Knight.

The Spartans are set to face Penn State next at home on January 15th at Breslin Center.