3 Spartans Who Need to Step Up Against Rutgers
In this story:
After sweeping their West Coast road trip with double-digit wins over Washington and Oregon, Michigan State returned home to East Lansing and delivered a dominant 91–48 victory over Maryland.
Jeremy Fears had one of the best performances of his career, finishing with 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting while dishing out 17 assists in just 25 minutes of action. With the performance, Fears became only the fourth player in college basketball history to record at least 17 points and 17 assists in a game against a Power Four opponent.
Fears wasn’t the only Spartan who shined against the Terrapins. Coen Carr and Carson Cooper each scored 14 points, combining to shoot 10-of-18 from the field. Cooper also knocked down the first three-point shot of his career, while Carr electrified the crowd with two highlight-reel lob dunks. Jaxon Kohler added a much-needed bounce-back performance, scoring in double figures after struggling during the West Coast trip.
Now, Michigan State heads back on the road to face the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. If the Spartans want to continue their winning ways, several key players will need to step up.
Jaxon Kohler
Kohler has endured a rough stretch in recent games. During Michigan State’s West Coast road trip, he totaled just nine points on 4-of-14 shooting from the field and went 0-for-7 from three-point range. However, he showed signs of turning things around against Maryland, scoring 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 1-of-2 from beyond the arc.
A strong performance against Rutgers would be important not only for the Spartans’ success but also for Kohler’s confidence heading into Friday’s rivalry matchup against Michigan.
Divine Ugochukwu
Ugochukwu has been a steady contributor for Michigan State this season, serving as a strong complementary piece alongside Fears in the backcourt. After Fears’ explosive performance against Maryland, Rutgers is likely to focus heavily on limiting his impact.
That creates an opportunity for Ugochukwu to step up as both a scorer and playmaker. If Michigan State is going to succeed on the road, Ugochukwu will need to provide consistent production and help take pressure off Fears.
Jordan Scott
Scott has quietly become one of the Spartans’ more reliable contributors this season. Against Maryland, he scored eight points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field, including 2-of-3 from three-point range.
Over the course of the season, Scott has developed into one of Michigan State’s better perimeter shooters, alongside Kur Teng and Kohler. His ability to stretch the floor will be crucial against Rutgers’ defense.
Coming off a dominant win over Maryland, Michigan State enters its matchup with Rutgers full of momentum. While Jeremy Fears continues to lead the way, the Spartans’ success will depend on contributions from players like Kohler, Ugochukwu, and Scott. If those pieces can build on their recent performances, Michigan State will be in a strong position to secure another road victory before turning its attention to the highly anticipated rivalry showdown with Michigan.
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 ranking 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.
Never again miss one major story related to your beloved Spartans when you sign up for our 100% FREE newsletter that comes straight to your email with the latest news. SIGN UP HERE NOW
