Fears Leads the Way, No. 17 Michigan State Races Past Detroit Mercy, 84-56, at the Breslin Center

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Redshirt sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. had a double-double and led four players in double figures as No. 17 Michigan State beat Detroit Mercy, 84-56, on Friday night at the Breslin Center.

Fears scored a career-high 18 points and handed out 11 assists, his third game with at least 10 dimes this season, to lead the Spartans.

Junior forward Coen Carr scored 13 points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds, while senior forward Jaxon Kohler added 13 points and four rebounds and senior center Carson Cooper added 12 points and six rebounds.

Records
Michigan State improves to 5-0 this season, while Detroit Mercy falls to 1-5.

Recap

Michigan State led from start to finish, opening up a 16-point lead at halftime (41-25) and leading by as many as 28 points in the second half, the latter on a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Divine Ugochukwu to close out the scoring.
The Spartans jumped out to a 10-0 lead after a 3-pointer from Carr just under four minutes into the game and extended their lead to 17-4 on free throws from redshirt freshman forward Jesse McCulloch at 12:30.
The Titans would pull to within 21-13 on a jumper from Orlando Lovejoy (9:06) but a 16-7 run over 6:39 capped by free throws from senior guard Trey Fort gave MSU its biggest lead of the half, 37-20, with 1:53 left.
Freshman forward Cam Ward hit a pair of free throws with no time on the clock to give MSU a 41-25 lead at the break.
The Spartans pushed the lead to 20 points, 47-27, on a conventional three-point play from Cooper at 18:22 and Detroit Mercy got no closer than 19 points the rest of the way.
Fears fed Cooper for an alleyoop to make it 55-31 at 15:15 and then fed Carr for a fast break alleyoop off a steal from sophomore guard Kur Teng to make it 66-39 (8:08).
Senior guard Nick Sanders hit a 3-poitner with 1:52 let to give MSU an 81-54 lead before Ugochukwu closed out the scoring with 10 seconds left.

Key Stats

Michigan State hit 48.3 percent of its field goals in the first half (14-of-29) and opened up a 41-25 lead at the break.
The Spartans had a 42-31 advantage on the boards and outscored Detroit Mercy in the paint, 34-24, while collecting 16 offensive rebounds (10 in the second half) and scoring 22 second-chance points.
MSU finished the game connecting on 76.9 percent of its free throws (20-of-26), including 90.0 percent in the second half (9-of-10).

Notes

Michigan State leads the all-time series with Detroit Mercy, 47-16, including a 28-6 mark at home and a 6-2 record at the Breslin Center.
The Spartans have won the last three games in the series.
Izzo's career record improved to 742-302 in his 31st year at the helm of the MSU program.
The Spartans have an all-time record of 165-47 in November, including a 108-4 record at home.
Head Coach Tom Izzo is 86-1 all-time at home in November, 130-43 for the month overall.
The Spartans scored a season-high 84 points.
MSU shot 48.3 percent from the floor (28-of-61), the third-straight game the team has connected on at least 48.0 percent of its field goals.
The Spartans hit eight shots from 3-point land, its second-best total of the season.
MSU finished the game shooting 76.9 percent from the free throw line (20-of-26), the second-straight game hitting at least 70.0 percent of its free throws.
- It was the second time this season hitting at least 20 free throws.
- The Spartans have attempted at least 25 free throws in four games this season.
MSU controlled the battle of the boards (42-31) for the fourth-straight game.
- The Spartans collected 16 offensive rebounds, the fifth-straight game with at least 10 on the offensive glass.
MSU limited Detroit Mercy to just 36.7 percent shooting from the floor, the fourth-straight opponent to shoot below 40 percent.
Redshirt sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. scored a career-high 18 points and handed out 11 assists for his second double-double of the season and the third of his career.
- This was the third time this season Fears has handed out at least 10 assists and the fifth of his career.
- He has led the team in assists five times this year and 27 for his career.
- Fears' 11 assists gave him back-to-back games with double-figure assists (13 vs. Kentucky), making him the first MSU player with back-to-back games of double-figure assists since Cassius Winston reached that mark on March 2 and March 5, 2019.
- This was the first time he has led the team in scoring this year and the second of his career.
Senior forward Jaxon Kohler scored 13 points and grabbed four rebounds.
- He has scored in double figures five times this year and 17 for his career.
Junior forward Coen Carr finished with 13 points and grabbed a game-high seven rebounds.
- He has scored in double figures three times this season and 17 for his career.
- This was his second game leading the team in rebounds and the fourth of his career.
Senior center Carson Cooper had points and six rebounds.
- He has scored in double figures three times and seven for his career.

Up Next
Michigan State heads to Florida next week to play in the Fort Myer Tip-Off, starting on Tuesday, Feb. 25 when the Spartans meet East Carolina. The game tips off at 1 p.m. and will air live on FS2.

Fears Leads the Way, No. 17 Michigan State Races Past Detroit Mercy, 84-56, at the Breslin Center

Next Event

Team Stats

Jeremy Fears Jr.

Jaxon Kohler

Coen Carr

Carson Cooper

Players Mentioned

Coen Carr

Carson Cooper

Jeremy Fears Jr.

Trey Fort

Jaxon Kohler

Jesse McCulloch

Nick Sanders

Kur Teng

Divine Ugochukwu

Cam Ward

Fears Leads the Way, No. 17 Michigan State Races Past Detroit Mercy, 84-56, at the Breslin Center

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Next Event

Team Stats

Game Leaders

Jeremy Fears Jr.

Jaxon Kohler

Coen Carr

Carson Cooper

Players Mentioned

Coen Carr

Carson Cooper

Jeremy Fears Jr.

Trey Fort

Jaxon Kohler

Jesse McCulloch

Nick Sanders

Kur Teng

Divine Ugochukwu

Cam Ward

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