A Heavyweight Fight at the Breslin
All week, I told anyone who’d listen that Michigan State would take care of business Saturday against the Duke Blue Devils. I was as confident as ever that this Spartan squad has something special, something different. And for most of the first half, it appeared that I might just be right.
The buildup to this showdown was worth the wait—until it wasn’t. And for much of the afternoon, it looked that way. When Duke is in the building, though, you need 40 full minutes of your best. This wasn’t just another non-conference tune-up; it was a heavyweight title fight.
The No. 7 Michigan State Spartans hosting the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils is the kind of matchup that defines seasons. It’s the kind that makes fans believe. And for 36 minutes, it looked like East Lansing was about to deliver the statement win of the college basketball season.
But as we’ve learned over the years, 36 minutes isn’t 40.
In a game that felt more like a March Madness Elite Eight clash than a December showcase, the Spartans fell just short, losing 66–60 in a physical, defensive grind. It’s MSU’s first blemish on an otherwise pristine 8–1 record, and while the result stings, the performance showed exactly why this team is a legitimate contender—and exactly where they must sharpen things before Big Ten play.
The Good: Cooper, Kohler, and Scott
Let’s start with the positives, because there were plenty.
Senior center Carson Cooper played the best game of his collegiate career. Long known as a defensive presence and effort guy, Cooper was an offensive force on Saturday. He posted his first career double-double with 16 points and a career-high 16 boards, relentlessly attacking the glass and giving MSU second-chance opportunities on a night when every possession mattered.
Then there was Jaxon Kohler. After a slower start to the season, Kohler erupted for a team-high 14 points, including four first-half threes that ignited the Breslin Center. When his jumper is falling, defenses have to stretch—and Duke struggled to keep pace during that stretch.
Which makes you wonder why they didn’t go to Kohler more often in the 2nd half. I kept thinking to myself, Why aren’t they finding ways to get Kohler the ball? He was brilliant in the first half, but almost nowhere to be found down the stretch.
Michigan State led 34–31 at halftime and extended that margin to five midway through the second half. The defense was punishing, the Izzone was deafening, and momentum felt firmly green.
The Boozer Problem
The real story of the afternoon was Cameron Boozer. Michigan State kept the Duke freshman phenom in check early, especially as he battled foul trouble throughout the first half. But once he settled in, Boozer completely flipped the game. He poured in 16 of his 18 points in the second half, finishing with a dominant double-double: 18 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block. Even while playing on the edge with four fouls, he made winning plays on both ends and became the steadying force Duke desperately needed. Boozer eventually fouled out in the final seconds, but by then, his imprint on the game—and on Michigan State’s chances—was already sealed.
Player Spotlight: The Fears Conundrum and the Freshman Phenom
We have to talk about Jeremy Fears Jr.
The sophomore point guard controlled this game for long stretches. His passing vision was elite—13 assists against a top-five defense is the real deal. He managed tempo, found Cooper and Kohler in rhythm, and looked every bit like the engine MSU needs.
But the shooting struggles were glaring. Fears went 0-for-10 from the field. To beat a team like Duke, you need your floor general to keep the defense honest, and unfortunately, Duke exploited that weakness late. This won’t be a trend—Fears is too gifted—but it’s an area he’ll need to clean up to prevent defenses from collapsing the paint.
We also need to talk about Coen Carr — a player who can electrify the Breslin with one play and frustrate it the next. His athleticism is undeniable, but his shooting inconsistency remains an issue. Carr is hitting just 25% from three this season, and he went 0-for-3 from deep in this one. I’m not sure if Izzo wants him taking those shots when he’s open, but at this point, I’d much rather see Kohler — or honestly, almost anyone besides Fears on an 0-for-10 afternoon — pulling the trigger from distance.
On the opposite end of the experience spectrum, freshman Jordan Scott announced himself. The rookie swung momentum with back-to-back threes in the second half, a fearless sequence that gave MSU a brief cushion. On a national stage, that kind of confidence from a freshman is a big sign for what’s coming.
By the Numbers
31.8% — MSU’s field goal percentage (21-of-66), a season-low.
You can’t shoot 31% and expect to beat a top-five team.
5 — Total turnovers by MSU.
Outstanding ball security that kept the Spartans competitive.
16 & 16 — Carson Cooper’s monster double-double.
A breakthrough performance for the junior center.
Coach Izzo’s Take
Head Coach Tom Izzo didn’t sugarcoat it. He knows this was a missed opportunity, but he also knows his team went toe-to-toe with the nation’s elite.
“It was a tough game to lose,” Izzo said in his postgame press conference. “We did enough things right to win, but we didn’t make shots when we needed to. Our defense was championship-level for 35 minutes, but credit to Duke—their zone slowed us down.”
Izzo also backed his point guard:
“Jeremy orchestrated everything. You look at 13 assists and only five turnovers as a team—that’s winning basketball. The shots will fall.”
Looking Ahead
This loss hurts, but obviously, the sky isn’t falling. MSU is 8–1 and proved they can hang physically with the best team in the country. Now they get a week off—perfect timing for finals and some much-needed recovery—before returning to the Breslin on December 16 to host Toledo.
Expect plenty of zone-offense reps in practice this week. And expect the Rockets to face an extremely motivated Spartans squad.
Forum CTA — Spartans Sound Off
What was your biggest frustration in the loss? Drop a comment below, or join the conversation in the Spartans Sound Off — where fans break down every game, every angle.
Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
