LANSING, Mich. — On Saturday night, Jaden Akins showcased an impressive performance with 13 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists, leading a well-rounded Michigan State team to an 86-72 victory over Bowling Green. The Spartans had seven players finish the game with double-digit points, showing their depth and versatility on the court.
Though Frankie Fiddler struggled with his shooting, hitting only 1 of 6 attempts from the field, he made his mark at the free-throw line by converting all 10 of his attempts. Alongside him, Carson Cooper contributed 12 points as well. Tre Holloman and Coen Carr each scored 11 points, while Jeremy Fears Jr. and Jaxon Kohler chipped in 10 points apiece, rounding out a balanced offensive effort.
With this win, Michigan State improved its record to 3-1 following a defeat to top-ranked Kansas, where they lost 77-69 in the State Farm Champions Classic held in Atlanta. This game served as a strong bounce-back opportunity for the Spartans as they looked to regain their momentum.
In the game’s later stages, Bowling Green managed to build some momentum by executing a 14-2 scoring run that put them ahead by eight points with 11 minutes left on the clock. Marcus Johnson contributed with a jumper and layup during this stretch, while Javontae Campbell added to the score with a layup and two free throws. At one point, the Falcons claimed a 72-68 advantage with just over seven minutes remaining. However, Cooper quickly answered back with a dunk that ignited a strong comeback for the Spartans. Carr followed up with free throws and additional points in the paint, and a spectacular put-back dunk from Akins spurred a 17-0 scoring flurry to close out the game.
During the final moments, Akins hit a 3-pointer and added two free throws around a layup from Fears, while Fiddler capped off the scoring by making all four of his free-throw attempts in the closing minute.
Bowling Green is now 1-3 on the season and has yet to secure a victory against NCAA-affiliated teams, despite coming off a massive 103-47 win against NAIA-member Taylor. Johnson led the Falcons with 23 points, although he struggled significantly from beyond the arc, making just 1 of 11 attempts. Campbell and Youssef Khayat followed with 14 and 13 points, respectively. In a challenging final seven minutes, Bowling Green was unable to convert any field goals, going 0-for-9, missed one free throw, and committed four turnovers.