Michigan State University Athletics

Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Coen Carr Scores Career-High 22 Points as No. 9 Michigan State Holds Off Oakland, 79-70, in Motown Showdown
12/20/2025 3:09:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DETROIT, Mich. – Junior forward Coen Carr scored a career-high 22 points, including 16 in the second half, as No. 9 Michigan State held off Oakland, 79-70, in front of 15,789 at Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit on Saturday afternoon.
Carr his 8-of-13 shots from the floor and 5-of-7 from the free throw line, while grabbing seven rebounds, adding two assists and two blocked shots.
Senior forward Jaxon Kohler had seventh double-double of the season, and third-straight, with 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, senior center Carson Cooper added 15 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots and sophomore guard Kur Teng added 10 points and five assists.
Records
Michigan State improves to 11-1 overall, while Oakland falls to 6-7.
Recap
Michigan State takes a break for the Christmas holiday and returns to the Breslin Center on Monday, Dec. 29, hosting Cornell at the Breslin Center (7 p.m., FS1).
Carr his 8-of-13 shots from the floor and 5-of-7 from the free throw line, while grabbing seven rebounds, adding two assists and two blocked shots.
Senior forward Jaxon Kohler had seventh double-double of the season, and third-straight, with 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, senior center Carson Cooper added 15 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots and sophomore guard Kur Teng added 10 points and five assists.
Records
Michigan State improves to 11-1 overall, while Oakland falls to 6-7.
Recap
- Michigan State led by three points at the break (39-36) and out-scored Oakland, 14-5, over the opening 4:44 of the second half, taking a 53-41 lead on free throws from Cooper at the 15:16 mark.
- The Spartans still led by 12 points, 55-43, following a jumper from Jesse McCulloch with 13:29 to play and were up 11, 58-47, on a three-point play from Carr with 11:24 left.
- The Golden Grizzlies chipped away and pulled to within six points, 60-54, after back-to-back baskets from Tuburu Naivalurua with 8:32 to play.
- Oakland would pull to within six points five times in the final minutes but could not get closer as Carr scored eight of MSU's last 10 points, including a three-point play with 3:33 to left to push the lead to 71-62.
- Michigan State went into the break with a 39-36 lead thanks to a three-point play from Cooper with five seconds left, capping an opening 20 minutes that featured seven ties and eight lead changes.
- The Spartans led 6-5 early but Oakland used an 11-3 run over 2:39 to take a 16-9 lead on a layup from Naivalurua at the 13:13 mark.
- Trailing 20-18 after a basket from Oakland's Michael Houge at 9:59, MSU used a 7-0 run to take a 25-20 lead on a 3-pointer from freshman forward Jordan Scott with 6:55 to play.
- The Golden Grizzlies took the lead back on a 3-pointer from Naivalurua with 4:43 to play and the lead changed hands three more times before Cooper's three-point play gave MSU the edge at the break.
- Michigan State had a 42-26 advantage in rebounding, grabbed 15 offensive boards and scored 15 second-chance points.
- The Spartans out-scored Oakland, 42-26, in the paint.
- MSU's bench scored 27 points, including 10 points from Teng, eight points from redshirt freshman Jesse McCulloch and six from freshman forward Jordan Scott.
- MSU blocked a season-high 11 shots.
- The Spartans handed out 19 assists on 28 made field goals.
- After turning the ball over seven times in the first half, MSU committed just four in the second half.
- Michigan State leads the all-time series with Oakland, 24-0.
- The Spartans are 5-2 all-time at Little Caesars Arena against the Golden Grizzlies.
- The Spartans are now 7-1 all-time at Little Caesars Arena.
- Izzo's career record improved to 748-303 in his 31st year at the helm of the MSU program.
- The Spartans have an all-time record of 169-41 under Izzo in December.
- The Spartans are 9-1 when leading at the half.
- MSU is 10-0 when shooting better than its opponent (45.9% to 42.9%).
- Michigan State shot 45.9 percent from the floor (28-of-61), the ninth time this season hitting at least 50.0 percent.
- Oakland is just the second team to shoot above 40 percent against the Spartans.
- The Spartans scored 79 points, the 10th time this season scoring at least 70.
- MSU is 10-0 when scoring at least 70 points.
- Oakland is the second team to score more at least 70 points against the Spartans.
- MSU controlled the battle of the boards (42-26) for the 11th time this season.
- The Spartans are 11-0 when outrebounding their opponent.
- The Spartans collected 15 offensive rebounds, the 11th game with at least 10 on the offensive glass, scoring 15 second-chance points.
- Michigan State handed out 19 assists, the ninth game with at least 18.
- MSU blocked a season-high 11 shots, the most since blocking 11, also against Oakland (on Dec. 17, 2024).
- Junior forward Coen Carr scored a career-high 22 points, his first collegiate game with at least 20 points.
- Carr hit a career-best eight field goals and tied his career mark with 13 attempts.
- Carr tied his season-high with seven rebounds.
- Senior forward Jaxon Kohler had a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
- This was his seventh double-double of the season.
- He is the first MSU player with three-straight double-doubles since Xavier Tillman Sr. in 2020 (at Michigan, 2/8/20; at Illinois, 2/11/20; vs. Maryland, 2/15/20).
- Kohler has seven games this year with at least 10 rebounds and 19 for his career.
- He has led the team in rebounding seven times this year and 28 for his career.
- He has scored in double figures 12 times this year and 24 for his career.
- Senior center Carson Cooper scored 15 points, grabbed five rebounds, blocked three shots and had two assists.
- This was the eighth game in double figure scoring this year for Cooper and the 12th of his career.
- He tied his career-high with three blocks, which also was a season-best for him.
- Sophomore guard Kur Teng scored 10 points, his fourth game in double figures this year and for his career.
- He handed out a career-high five assists, leading the team for the first time in his career.
Michigan State takes a break for the Christmas holiday and returns to the Breslin Center on Monday, Dec. 29, hosting Cornell at the Breslin Center (7 p.m., FS1).
Team Stats
Oak
MSU
FG%
.429
.459
3FG%
.455
.273
FT%
.923
.739
RB
26
42
TO
12
11
STL
8
4
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Tom Izzo | Men's Basketball Press Conference | Feb. 02 2026
Monday, February 02
Tom Izzo Post Game Comments | Michigan | Jan. 30 2026
Friday, January 30
Tom Izzo | Men's Basketball Press Conference | Jan. 26 2026
Monday, January 26
Tom Izzo Post Game Comments | UMD | Jan. 24 2026
Saturday, January 24














