Michigan State Dominates Washington in Blowout Victory

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State delivered a commanding performance Thursday night, defeating Washington 88-54 in a game that showcased the Spartans’ defensive prowess and offensive efficiency. The No. 16 Spartans (13-2, 4-0 Big Ten) extended their winning streak to eight games, overwhelming the Huskies (10-6, 1-4) with a relentless defense and balanced scoring attack.

Freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr. recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 assists, setting the tone for Michigan State’s dominance. “For me, everything really starts with our defense,” Fears said after the game. His tenacity was evident as he disrupted Washington’s offense, particularly targeting point guard Zoom Diallo, who struggled to find rhythm throughout the contest.

Michigan State’s defense held Washington to just 32.7% shooting from the floor and forced 15 turnovers. The Huskies went scoreless for over nine minutes in the first half and failed to make a field goal for the first 10:27 of the game. “The last two games, I think what we learned about ourselves is just the toughness of this team,” said freshman guard Jase Richardson, who contributed 12 points and five steals.

Jaden Akins led the Spartans with a game-high 20 points, while Tre Holloman added 11 points and six assists. Michigan State’s depth was on full display as all 10 regular players scored, and the team outrebounded Washington 40-30. The Spartans also dominated in transition, outscoring the Huskies 28-2 on fastbreak points.

Head coach Tom Izzo praised his team’s focus and execution. “I thought we played awfully well,” Izzo said. “We stayed focused. Yeah, I did see it in their eyes. That was fun to see.” The victory marked Izzo’s 347th Big Ten win, moving him closer to Bob Knight‘s all-time record of 353.

Washington’s struggles were compounded by the poor performance of leading scorer Great Osobor, who was held to just six points on 0-for-8 shooting. Huskies coach Danny Sprinkle acknowledged his team’s lack of competitiveness. “Our competitive spirit wasn’t there tonight, our physicality and our toughness,” Sprinkle said. “In order to play against Michigan State, you know what their program is built on. We didn’t do a good enough job of conveying that to the players.”

Michigan State will look to continue its winning streak as it travels to Northwestern for its next conference game on Sunday. Tipoff is set for noon at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois.