No. 16 Michigan State extended its winning streak to nine games with a solid 78-68 victory over Northwestern on Sunday, thanks in part to Jaden Akins, who contributed 14 points to the team’s effort.
The Spartans (14-2, 5-0 Big Ten) demonstrated their dominance by closing the first half with an impressive 33-12 run, leading 47-28 at the break. Remarkably, every player on the roster managed to score at least once during the first half. Although the Wildcats (10-6, 1-4) managed to cut the deficit to single digits in the final moments, they were unable to mount a significant comeback.
In addition to Akins, Jase Richardson added 13 points, while Jeremy Fears contributed 12 points and dished out eight assists for the Spartans. The team’s athleticism was on full display, highlighted by six dunks in the first half that sent the visiting fans into a frenzy, making up a substantial portion of the sellout crowd.
Nick Martinelli shone for Northwestern, scoring 27 points, while teammate Jalen Leach added 17. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, this loss marked their first home defeat and their third consecutive loss overall.
Takeaways
Michigan State continues to showcase one of the most effective benches in college basketball, with reserves contributing a noteworthy 24 points. In fact, the Spartans’ bench nearly outscored the Wildcats during the first half, illustrating the depth and talent of the team.
Despite a strong home-court advantage at Welsh-Ryan Arena, Northwestern struggled during the critical first half, committing four turnovers and shooting just 3 for 18 from the field.
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Brooks Barnhizer of Northwestern came into the game averaging 19.3 points but faced a challenging outing, missing his first seven attempts and finishing with only four points on 2-for-13 shooting.
Up next
Looking ahead, Michigan State will host Penn State on Wednesday, while Northwestern will face Maryland at home on Thursday.
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