The History of the MSU–Penn State Basketball Rivalry

MSU and Penn State have a long-winded rivalry on the court that could impact their game on Saturday.

Jan 15, 2025; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo protests a call by the officials during the second half of their game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images | Dale Young-Imagn Images

Rivalry games are not as big in basketball as they are in football, of course, except the game between in-state competitors such as Michigan State's rivalry with the Michigan Wolverines, but they are still important.

Jan 15, 2025; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1) shoots past Penn State Nittany Lions forward Zach Hicks (24) during the second half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images | Dale Young-Imagn Images

They have a vast opportunity to get energy into a building that has been lost, and that could be huge for MSU in their Saturday matchup against their rival Penn State, after having suffered the first loss of the season to Duke, which had only a few bright spots.

With how big rivalries can be, it is pertinent to know the history of the longtime war between the two teams, and the same applies to the Spartans and the Nittany Lions as MSU tries to stay a top ten team.

The History Of MSU's Rivalry With Penn State

Jan 15, 2025; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans center Carson Cooper (15) puts in a shot against Penn State Nittany Lions forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) during the second half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images | Dale Young-Imagn Images

• While the battle for dominance is much more recognized in college football, the NCAA has still made it a priority to give Michigan State a match with Penn State every year.

• In some years, there have even been more than one game in a season between the two Big Ten teams, and this has led them to have played 41 games in the past 25 years of division one basketball.

Jan 15, 2025; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Xavier Booker (34) celebrates a basket and foul against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images | Dale Young-Imagn Images

• Of those matches, the Spartans have come out on top in 34 of them, skewing the vast majority of games into their favor, unlike football, in which they have been losing as of recent.

• Michigan State is currently on a four-game winning streak against Penn State in those 34 wins, and will be hoping to keep that streak alive and make it 35 wins on five straight victories.

Jan 15, 2025; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Jaden Akins (3) scores and collects a foul against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the second half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images | Dale Young-Imagn Images

• The last time that Penn State won was a very close game as well, and if the Spartans had been able to win that game, then they would be on an eight-game winning streak instead of four.

• Their intense dominance in recent years will be fuel for an intense matchup as MSU looks to keep its streak and Penn State looks to break it.

Jan 15, 2025; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Jaxon Kohler (0) lines up a long shot against Penn State Nittany Lions guard D'Marco Dunn (2) during the second half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images | Dale Young-Imagn Images

No matter what leads up to it, the game against the Nittany Lions on Saturday will be the first chance for the Spartans to bounce back this season after a rough loss.

With the history of their dominance over Penn State under their belts, they will have a lot to look forward to, as well as live up to.

Jan 15, 2025; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1) drives past Penn State Nittany Lions guard Ace Baldwin Jr. (1) during the first half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images | Dale Young-Imagn Images

But if they pull off a victory then they will be able to celebrate not only for a 9-1 record but for a five game winning streak against their conference rivals.

Keep up with all our content when you follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook, Spartan Nation, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be sure to share your thoughts on MSU's rivalry with Penn State when you join our community group, Go Green Go White, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE. Don't forget to give us a follow on X @MSUSpartansOnSI as well.