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After getting off to a 37-28 lead at halftime, there were still plenty of questions about whether the Rutgers Scarlet Knights could get the job done. Could the Scarlet Knights pick up their biggest win of the 2025-26 season, and do it in front of their home fans at Jersey Mike's Arena? Would Rutgers be able to upset Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans?
Coming into the game as a nearly 15-point underdog, the Scarlet Knights nearly got the job done and knocked off the #7 team in college basketball. But, in the end, the Spartans survived Piscattaway. Michigan State won the game 88-79 in overtime.
The comeback started when the Spartans got to within 60-55 with 6:45 to go. The Scarlet Knights needed and used a timeout, and immediately hit a three to keep the Spartans at bay. Coen Carr cut the lead down to 65-60 with 3:15 to go in the game. A pair of baskets kept it a five-point game with 2:00 to go until the Spartans got a lay-up to make it 67-64 with 1:52 to go.
Jeremy Fears Jr. tied the game with 1:16 to go, slashing to the rim and converting the free throw. Rutgers was able to get Tariq Francis to the free-throw line, where he made both to put them up two with under 1:00 to go. Fears was able to rebound his own miss to cut the lead back to 1 with 24.3 to go.
After a missed three, the Scarlet Knights split a pair of free throws to make it 70-67. Michigan State used a timeout with 41.0 to go.
After a foul, the Scarlet Knights used two JaMichael Davis free throws to go back up by 3. After Izzo used his last timeout to set up an opportunity for the Spartans to tie the game
It was once again Fears Jr. who missed his first free throw of the game. After making the second, the Spartans were within two. Davis went back to the line for the Scarlet Knights and he also missed the first, while hitting the second. It was 73-70 with 17.0 to go. The Spartans got a late Divine Ugochukwu three-pointer to tie it. Rutgers chose to not to use a timeout, and Francis got a late look, but it rolled off to send the game to overtime.
The Spartans got the lead early with a pair of free throws in overtime and never looked back. Fears finished the overtime off with free throws to win it.
Francis was brilliant off the bench for the Scarlet Knights as he led the team with 23 points. Harun Zrno also added 14 off the bench. Davis ended with 15 for Rutgers.
Fears led the Spartans with 27, while Carr had 13 points and eight rebounds. Michigan State saw four players score double digits in the game.
Rutgers is now 9-12 on the season. The Scarlet Knights are on a four-game losing streak. The last time the Scarlet Knights came away with a win was January 11th at home against Northwestern.
The two wins the Scarlet Knights got were over Oregon and Northwestern at home this month. Rutgers will head out on the road for their next two games. The first is at USC on Saturday, followed by a trip to UCLA on February 3rd.
The win for Michigan State improved them to 19-2 on the season. The win pushed their winning streak to seven. The win also moved the Spartans to 9-1 in league play.
Next up for the Spartans is a massive rivalry game at home on Friday against the Michigan Wolverines.
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