Tom Izzo sounds the alarm after Michigan State survives Rutgers on Senior Night
tom izzo watched No. 8 Michigan State celebrate Senior Night, then grind through a tense finish to beat Rutgers 91-87 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing on Thursday, March 5, 2026 (ET). The Spartans opened a 19-point second-half lead but had to hold on as Rutgers surged late, forcing Michigan State to delay its in-game floor-kissing tradition. Michigan State extended its winning streak to five and moved to 25-5 overall and 15-4 in Big Ten play, while Rutgers fell to 12-18 and 5-14.
Michigan State builds big lead, then faces a late Rutgers push
Michigan State’s defining stretch came after a shaky opening half. The game started with unforced turnovers, missed shots, and a jittery rhythm that left the Spartans narrowly ahead 31-30 at halftime. That changed early in the second half as Michigan State cleaned up its play, strengthened its defensive effort, and generated a dominant run that included three alley-oops in a row that ignited the Breslin Center crowd.
The surge produced a 19-point lead with 6: 17 left, but the final minutes turned urgent. With 1: 19 remaining and Michigan State leading 83-68, head coach Tom Izzo began substituting seniors in for the program’s long-running in-game floor-kissing tradition—an on-court moment that has been a staple at Michigan State for almost three decades. Rutgers immediately answered, starting with a four-point play by guard Tariq Francis and then a three-pointer from guard Kaden Powers after a quick baseline turnover, cutting the margin sharply.
As Rutgers’ pressure mounted and Michigan State missed free throws, the Scarlet Knights pressed the Spartans into a tight finish, closing to 89-87 with five seconds remaining. The comeback stopped there, with sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. hitting both free throws to seal the 91-87 final.
Tom Izzo: “I blame the first half on the players and the second half on me”
After the game, tom izzo delivered a blunt assessment of the performance and the frantic ending.
“We didn’t play very well, ” MSU head coach Tom Izzo said. “I blame the first half on the players and the second half on me. But the good news is, I think the players are more upset than the coach, and that’s always a good sign. ”
Izzo also defended the senior substitutions that triggered the tradition attempt, noting the late Rutgers shot-making after the lineup change.
“It wasn’t like the guys I put in did everything wrong, ” Izzo said. “Rutgers just made their shots. So no, I didn’t like the way it went, but there’s nothing I could do about it. The players understood and that’s why I was so appreciative that so many people stayed. ”
Key performers: Fears and Carr lead, Kohler and Cooper add Senior Night impact
Michigan State had four players score in double figures and controlled the glass, out-rebounding Rutgers 38-21. Jeremy Fears Jr., a redshirt sophomore guard, scored 15 of his 21 points in the second half and posted a game-high eight assists. Junior forward Coen Carr matched him with 21 points and added six rebounds.
On a Senior Night that turned into a test of composure, senior forward Jaxon Kohler recorded 15 points and seven rebounds, while senior center Carson Cooper added 14 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Freshman forward Cam Ward pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, scored nine points, and registered a game-high three blocked shots.
What’s next for Michigan State after the Rutgers scare
Michigan State closes the 2025-26 regular season on Sunday, March 8, at Michigan, with tipoff scheduled for 4: 30 p. m. (ET). The Spartans leave Senior Night with a win—and with the late wobble still fresh—after Tom Izzo’s candid postgame message that the finish, not the celebration, is what has to carry forward.
