No. 8 Michigan State takes outright Big Ten regular-season title with
91-84 victory over Iowa
[March 07, 2025]
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Jace Richardson scored 22 points and No. 8
Michigan State wrapped up the outright Big Ten regular-season
championship with an 91-84 victory over Iowa on Thursday night.
Michigan State (25-5, 16-3) won its first conference title since 2020.
The Spartans secured a share of the championship Wednesday night with
Michigan’s loss to Maryland. |
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo, center, watches from the bench
during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa,
Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie
Neibergall) |
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Down 58-48 with 12:13 left, Michigan States
reeled off a 19-2 run and never trailed again on the way to its
sixth consecutive victory. The Spartans scored 61 second-half
points.
The Hawkeyes (15-15, 6-13) led 37-30 at halftime, taking
advantage of a 22-2 run. Michigan State missed 10 of 11 shots
during that run.
Jaxon Kohler and Jaden Akins each had 15 points for Michigan
State. Jeremy Fears Jr., had 14 and Tre Holloman added 11.
Josh Dix led Iowa with 18 points. Payton Sandfort and Seydou
Traore each had 15.
Takeaways
Michigan State: The Spartans struggled to make shots early, but
stayed patient and let their defense take in the second half.
Michigan State got open looks throughout the second half,
especially in transition, shooting 61.3% for the half.
Iowa: The Hawkeyes had control for most of the game, but this
one went like so many others this season. Since the loss of
leading scorer and rebounder Owen Freeman to a hand injury in
early February, Iowa has seemed outmanned in most games, leaving
it in danger of missing the Big Ten Tournament.
Key moment
Michigan State’s Coen Carr had back-to-back lob dunks in the big
second-half run.
Key stat
It was the 11th Big Ten title for Michigan State coach Tom Izzo,
tying him with Indiana’s Bob Knight and Purdue’s Ward “Piggy”
Lambert for the record.,
Up next
Michigan State hosts Michigan on Sunday. Iowa is at Nebraska on
Sunday.
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