Four in Double Figures as Top-Seeded Michigan State Beats Oregon, 74-64, to Reach Big Ten Tournament Semifinals

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Top-seeded Michigan State opened up a 10-point lead at halftime and put four players in double figures en route to a 74-64 win over No. 8 seed Oregon in a Big Ten Conference men's basketball quarterfinal game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Friday afternoon.

Freshman guard Jase Richardson scored 15 of his team-high 17 points in the second half and added three rebounds and two assists to lead the Spartans.

Senior guard Jaden Akins added 12 points to go with three rebounds, redshirt freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr. finished with 11 points and five assists, while sophomore forward Coen Carr scored 10 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

Records
Michigan State improves to 27-5 overall, while Oregon falls to 24-9.

Recap

Michigan State led by 10 points at halftime (42-32) before Oregon scored the first six points of the second half and used an 11-2 run over the opening 5:24 of the second half, pulling within one point, 44-43, on a 3-pointer from Keeshawn Barthelemy with 15:26 to play.
MSU responded with a 15-0 run over a span of 3:14, with senior forward Frankie Fidler hitting a jumper and a 3-pointer during the stretch and a 3-pointer and a step-back jumper from Richardson with 10:31 to play giving the Spartans their biggest lead of the game, 59-43.
The Ducks pulled to within seven points in the final minute of the game, but the Spartans Richardson (2), Fears and Akins each hit free throws to close out the scoring.
The Spartans went into the break with a 42-32 lead, using a 15-4 run over the final 5:48, with Carson Cooper putting back a missed shot to give MSU the 10-point lead.
MSU had jumped out to the early lead, a jumper from Akins at 16:08 giving MSU a 10-4 lead.
Oregon used a 9-3 run to tie the game at 13-all on a basket from Jadrian Tracey (12:49) and the teams went back and forth, with six lead changes and four ties.
The Ducks led 28-27 following a 3-pointer from Bamba at 6:22 before Fears hit a jumper at 5:48 to give MSU the lead the rest of the way.

Key Stats

Michigan State connected on 46.3 percent of its field goals (25-of-54), including 51.6 percent in the first half (16-of-31).
After Oregon shot 56.5 percent in the first half, the Spartans limited the Ducks to 40.0 percent shooting from the field (12-of-30), including 10.0 percent from 3-point land (1-of-10).
MSU held a 36-29 advantage on the boards, collected seven offensive rebounds in the first half and out-scoring Oregon, 13-0, in second chance points.

Notes

Michigan State leads the all-time series with Oregon, 4-2, and the Spartans have won the last three games.
- This was the first win against the Ducks in the Big Ten Tournament.
Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo is 4-0 all-time against Oregon.
Izzo's career record is now 734-300.
The Spartans advance to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals for the 17th time in program history.
Michigan State has a 36-20 all-time record in the Big Ten Tournament.
Michigan State finished the game shooting 46.3 percent from the floor (25-of-54), 27th time this season shooting at least 40.0 percent.
The Spartans were out-shot by their opponent (MSU 46.3% to Oregon 47.2%), just the fifth time this season an opponent shot better (2-3).
Michigan State out-rebounded its opponent for the 28th time this season and has a 25-4 record in those situations.
Michigan State is 25-0 when scoring at least 70 points.
The Spartans are 18-1 when holding opponents to 69 points or fewer.
The Spartans received 27 points from the bench, the 30th time in 32 games with at least 20 points.
Jase Richardson scored a team-high 17 points, adding three rebounds and two assists.
- Richardson has scored in double figures in 10-straight games.
- He has reached double figures in 19 games this season.
- This was his ninth time leading the team in scoring.
Jaden Akins finished with 12 points, three rebounds and two steals.
- This was his 26th game scoring in double figures this season and the 60th of his career.
- Akins now has 1,191 career points, passing Shannon Brown (2003-06) for 40th place and Mike Peplowski (1989-93) for 39th place on the all-time scoring list at MSU and he needs five points to pass Alan Anderson (2001-05) and Kelvin Torbert (2001-05) for 37th place.
Jeremy Fears Jr. finished with 11 points and a game-high five assists.
- It was his 10th game scoring in double figures and the 10th of his career.
- He has led the team in assists 17 times this year and 18 for his career.
Coen Carr scored 10 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
- Carr has scored in double figures 10 times this year and 12 in his career.
- This was his second time leading the team in rebounding.

Up Next
Michigan State plays fifth-seeded Wisconsin, who beat fourth-seeded UCLA, 86-70, in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on Saturday, March 15 (1 p.m., CBS).

Four in Double Figures as Top-Seeded Michigan State Beats Oregon, 74-64, to Reach Big Ten Tournament Semifinals

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Team Stats

Jase Richardson

Jaden Akins

Jeremy Fears Jr.

Coen Carr

Players Mentioned

Jaden Akins

Coen Carr

Carson Cooper

Jeremy Fears Jr.

Frankie Fidler

Jase Richardson

Four in Double Figures as Top-Seeded Michigan State Beats Oregon, 74-64, to Reach Big Ten Tournament Semifinals

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Next Event

Team Stats

Game Leaders

Jase Richardson

Jaden Akins

Jeremy Fears Jr.

Coen Carr

Players Mentioned

Jaden Akins

Coen Carr

Carson Cooper

Jeremy Fears Jr.

Frankie Fidler

Jase Richardson

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