Michigan State was outplayed for essentially the entire game, but a late run and dominant overtime performance led to a 88-79 victory over Rutgers on Tuesday. The Spartans trailed for most of the game and overcame a double-digit second half deficit to avoid a massive upset bid from the Scarlet Knights.

Michigan State overcame a big deficit to escape with a win on Tuesday night.

Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 27 of his 29 points for Michigan State in the second half to stave off an upset at Rutgers.

After the win, Tom Izzo took an on-court interview with Bill Raftery, where he gave full credit to Rutgers and Steve Pickell, talking about how well they played, but in the end, his team found a way. Watch the full interview via X:

The Spartans' "floor general" is the first Michigan State player to win this award in some time.

Narrow wins by Michigan and Michigan State set the stage for Friday’s pivotal rivalry matchup as both are tied for the number one seed in the Big Ten with little margin for error.

Michigan State University frequently in the headlines in early December 2025 with a series of major announcements the largest donation in university history. Public records later revealed Greg and Dawn Williams had filed a nonbinding letter of intent for their $401 million gift two months before its public announcement.

Among nearly 100 programs ranked nationwide, the MSU College of Social Science’s online graduate program in Criminal Justice ranks No. 8 overall and No. 5 among public institutions. MSU is also ranked No. 5 overall and No. 4 among public institutions for criminal justice programs for veterans.

The Spartans have gotten a commitment shortly after the team's Junior Day.