Lansing Sun

Michigan State University's men's basketball team faced a setback as they were defeated by Southern California with a score of 70-64 at the Galen Center. The Spartans, ranked seventh, struggled to overcome an early 15-point deficit in the first half.

Redshirt freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr. led Michigan State with 12 points and six assists. Senior guard Jaden Akins contributed 11 points and four rebounds, while sophomore forward Coen Carr added nine points and three assists.

The loss ended Michigan State's impressive 13-game winning streak, bringing their record to 18-3 overall and 9-1 in the Big Ten Conference. Meanwhile, USC improved to a 13-8 overall record and stands at 5-5 in league play.

The Spartans initially fell behind but managed to close the gap to three points by halftime. However, USC quickly regained control in the second half. A crucial moment came when Desmond Claude's jumper extended USC's lead to nine points late in the game.

Key statistics from the game include Michigan State committing 13 turnovers, leading to 12 points for USC. Despite out-rebounding USC by one (34-33), Michigan State struggled with free throws, shooting only 57.9 percent from the line.

Head Coach Tom Izzo noted that this was his first road loss of the season for Michigan State, who now holds a record of 5-1 away from home. The Spartans are set to continue their West Coast tour with an upcoming game against UCLA on February 4th.