No. 12 Michigan State Pulls Off Thrilling Comeback Against Northwestern
In a high-energy matchup, the No. 12-ranked Michigan State Spartans overcame a seven-point halftime deficit and an eight-point lead by Northwestern Wildcats in the second half to secure a hard-fought 76-66 victory on Thursday night.
The turning point came midway through the second half when senior forward Jaxon Kohler sank a three-pointer, giving his team a 46-45 lead. He later scored another basket after teammates grabbed two offensive rebounds, putting Michigan State ahead by eight with just over six minutes left to play.
However, Northwestern refused to back down, pulling within two points with only 2:04 remaining on the clock. But Jeremy Fears Jr., who scored all 15 of his points in the second half, hit a crucial layup and was followed by a thunderous dunk from Coen Carr to seal the win for Michigan State.
The Spartans' victory marked their sixth in seven games, showcasing their ability to respond to adversity and overcome challenging situations. On the other hand, Northwestern struggled to contain Kohler on the 3-point line, allowing him to score crucial baskets down the stretch.
Despite a strong performance from Nick Martinelli, who scored 28 points for Northwestern, the Wildcats ultimately came up short due to their inability to slow down Michigan State's offense or keep Fears off the boards. The Spartans outrebounded their opponents by 42-25 and capitalized on 16 second-chance points.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo's team was more efficient at the free throw line in the second half, making 17 of 22 attempts. However, they still committed seven turnovers to Northwestern's eight.
In a high-energy matchup, the No. 12-ranked Michigan State Spartans overcame a seven-point halftime deficit and an eight-point lead by Northwestern Wildcats in the second half to secure a hard-fought 76-66 victory on Thursday night.
The turning point came midway through the second half when senior forward Jaxon Kohler sank a three-pointer, giving his team a 46-45 lead. He later scored another basket after teammates grabbed two offensive rebounds, putting Michigan State ahead by eight with just over six minutes left to play.
However, Northwestern refused to back down, pulling within two points with only 2:04 remaining on the clock. But Jeremy Fears Jr., who scored all 15 of his points in the second half, hit a crucial layup and was followed by a thunderous dunk from Coen Carr to seal the win for Michigan State.
The Spartans' victory marked their sixth in seven games, showcasing their ability to respond to adversity and overcome challenging situations. On the other hand, Northwestern struggled to contain Kohler on the 3-point line, allowing him to score crucial baskets down the stretch.
Despite a strong performance from Nick Martinelli, who scored 28 points for Northwestern, the Wildcats ultimately came up short due to their inability to slow down Michigan State's offense or keep Fears off the boards. The Spartans outrebounded their opponents by 42-25 and capitalized on 16 second-chance points.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo's team was more efficient at the free throw line in the second half, making 17 of 22 attempts. However, they still committed seven turnovers to Northwestern's eight.