East Lansing, Mich. — In an impressive display of basketball, Jaden Akins netted 20 points, leading No. 16 Michigan State to an 88-54 victory over Washington on Thursday night. This win marks the Spartans’ eighth consecutive victory, further solidifying their position in the NCAA landscape.
Jeremy Fears Jr. recorded his first career double-double, contributing 12 points and dishing out 10 assists for Michigan State (14-2, 4-0 in Big Ten play), tying them with their longtime rival Michigan for the top spot in the conference. Also adding to the scoring were Jase Richardson with 12 points and Tre Holloman, who finished with 11 points and six assists.
From the outset, the Spartans dominated; they went over 10 minutes into the game without permitting any baskets and took a commanding lead of 42-13 by halftime. This defensive prowess was critical to their success on the night.
On the other side, Tyler Harris led the scoring efforts for the Huskies (10-6, 1-4), recording 14 points. However, the team struggled significantly from the field at the beginning, missing their first 14 attempts. Notably, Great Osobor, who typically averages 14.3 points per game, had a tough night, going 0-for-8 shooting and finishing with just six points.
Key takeaways from this matchup included Washington’s struggles adapting to the Spartans’ vigorous defense and enthusiastic home crowd, particularly as it was their first road game since December 3. For Michigan State, their success comes from a well-rounded scoring approach, as nearly all players who took the floor before halftime contributed to the scoreboard. Remarkably, Jaden Akins stands as the sole player on the team averaging in double figures.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Washington managed to cut the deficit to 12 points with just under eight minutes remaining in the first half. However, Frankie Fidler responded with a corner 3-pointer, igniting a 12-2 run by the Spartans and effectively sealing the game’s outcome.
Statistically, the Huskies led for a mere nine seconds during the contest and recorded four turnovers before KC Ibekwe managed a follow-up shot at the 9:35 mark of the first half.
Looking ahead, Washington remains in Michigan for their next challenge against Michigan in Ann Arbor on Sunday, while Michigan State prepares to hit the road to face off against Northwestern on the same day.
