EAST LANSING, Mich. — Jaden Akins contributed significantly to Michigan State’s victory over Nebraska with 18 points, while teammate Jaxon Kohler came close to matching his career rebound record, finishing with a total of 12 rebounds in the game. The Spartans dominated the matchup, securing an impressive 89-52 win on Saturday.

The win elevated Michigan State’s record to 8-2 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten conference. Notable performances also came from Spartans’ reserves, as Jase Richardson dropped 16 points and Xavier Booker added 11, showing efficiency with a combined shooting statistic of 9-for-13, each logging around 15 minutes of playtime.

Michigan State showcased an efficient offense, shooting 51.8% from the field, making 29 of 56 attempts, and hitting an impressive 95.7% from the free-throw line, connecting on 22 of 23 attempts. On the other side, Nebraska’s performance featured standout contributions from reserve Andrew Morgan, who scored 14 points, and Brice Williams, who contributed 11 in the team’s conference opener, bringing their season record to 6-2 and 0-1 in the Big Ten.

The game started with the Spartans swiftly going up 7-0. However, the Cornhuskers responded with seven consecutive points to even the score. Williams of Nebraska later tied the game at 11 with two successful free throws. Despite this, Michigan State surged ahead, outscoring Nebraska 13-2 in just over five and a half minutes, extending their lead to 24-13 with 7:36 remaining in the first half.

Nebraska managed to get to within five points, trailing 26-21 following a jump shot from Morgan at the six-minute mark. The Spartans then responded assertively with a dunk from Coen Carr, followed by a 3-pointer and two free throws from Richardson, establishing a lead that they maintained for the rest of the game. The advantage grew to 20 points at 53-33 with a jumper from Akins with 14:26 left in the game, and peaked at 30 points after a 3-pointer from Tre Holloman with 10:48 remaining.

This match marked Michigan State’s return to the Breslin Center after an 18-day hiatus, further enhancing their standing in the historic rivalry with Nebraska, now leading the all-time series 24-10.