EAST LANSING, Mich. — In an exciting showdown on Wednesday night, Frankie Fidler emerged as a standout for the 12th-ranked Michigan State, scoring a season-high 18 points, while teammate Jaden Akins added 16 points. This dynamic performance allowed the Spartans to secure a hard-fought 90-85 victory over Penn State.
With this victory, Michigan State improved to 15-2 overall and an impressive 6-0 in Big Ten play. This marks their tenth consecutive win, the first time they’ve achieved such a streak since the 2018-19 season, the same year that they were among the eight teams reaching the Final Four under renowned coach Tom Izzo.
On the other hand, the Nittany Lions have struggled recently, falling to 12-6 and 2-5 in the conference after suffering four consecutive defeats. Three of these losses came against teams currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 25.
In a somewhat mixed day for Penn State, Ace Baldwin Jr. made a significant impact by contributing 20 points and playing the entire game despite a recent back injury that sidelined him previously. However, the team experienced a setback as Puff Johnson, who recently performed well with a 15-point game, injured his right hand during the first half and was unable to return.
The recent schedule has placed considerable pressure on Penn State, as they faced three consecutive top-15 ranked teams. This followed an encouraging one-point setback against the then-15th ranked Oregon, alongside a more challenging defeat, losing 91-52 against then-13th ranked Illinois.
For Michigan State, this year’s squad, being led by Izzo in his 30th season, has managed to elevate expectations despite not being ranked initially in the first five AP Top 25 polls. The Spartans have improved significantly, doubling their longest winning streak from last season, where they secured 19 wins, while also extending their NCAA Tournament appearances streak to 24 years.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Penn State narrowed the gap to four points, but Akins responded decisively by completing a three-point play with just 29.7 seconds left on the clock.
Statistically, Michigan State showcased their depth during the first half by having ten players score, establishing a solid lead of 46-36. The team also demonstrated balanced scoring, with eight players finishing the game with at least seven points.
Looking ahead, Michigan State is set to face No. 19 Illinois on Sunday afternoon in what promises to be one of the most exciting matchups in college basketball this week. Meanwhile, Penn State will host Rutgers on Monday night.
