Jaxon Kohler dominated the paint, showcasing a monstrous double-double as Michigan State's bigs overwhelmed Toledo in a commanding first half.
It’s the Jaxon Kohler show — admission requires a Peacock subscription.
Michigan State’s big men put on a dominant first-half performance against Toledo, led by Kohler’s 14 points and 11 rebounds for a first-half double-double.
Right out of the gate, it was clear the Spartans were going to lean heavily on their interior presence — exactly what Tom Izzo hinted at before tipoff. Michigan State pushed the ball through the middle early and often. Think Tom Brady to Rob Gronkowski over the middle: the defense knows it’s coming, and it still works. BOOM — positive gain.
Izzo has never shied away from comparing his teams to football squads, and this one is playing like it tonight. Jeremy Fears Jr. relentlessly fed the post, driving the offense straight through the heart of Toledo’s defense. Carson Cooper got things started with early touches and trips to the line, Coen Carr chipped in, and then Kohler completely took over.
Kohler looked like a lab-created hybrid built specifically to dominate the paint. Toledo had no answers as he attacked the rim again and again. The Rockets looked like little cousins trying to tackle you during Thanksgiving backyard football. Kohler out-jumped the entire Toledo roster multiple times for rebounds and put-backs, playing grown-man basketball against kids.
At one point, Kohler had more points (14) than Toledo had as a team (12).
And while Kohler was the headliner, Michigan State showed it’s far from a one-trick pony. Cooper continued to play strong early, going 3-for-4 from the free-throw line, while Fears — the nation’s assist leader — orchestrated the offense like Steve Nash, piling up assists and keeping the ball moving.
The Spartans’ bench played a huge role in extending the lead. Kur Teng knocked down all three of his three-point attempts. Jesse McCulloch hit his lone three. Freshmen Jordan Scott and Cam Ward brought instant energy with gritty defense, smart passes, sneaky cuts, and tough finishes.
Toledo didn’t help itself offensively, launching three after three while struggling to score inside. Michigan State’s size made the paint feel like an unsolvable puzzle. A few threes fell, but most possessions ended with misses and rebounds — welcome to Rebounding U.
Michigan State scored the first basket and never looked back, rattling off multiple 9–0 runs and suffocating the Toledo offense. After allowing Penn State to reach 70 points last game, the Spartans clearly made a statement: nothing comes easy against this defense.
With an offense led by a grown man in Kohler and a defense locked in, Michigan State looks every bit the part. The key in the second half will be keeping the foot on the gas — something the Spartans learned the hard way against Penn State. With the lead secure, it would also be a great opportunity to get extended looks at the freshmen.
Halftime score: Michigan State 58, Toledo 28
Spartan Leaders
Points
- Jaxon Kohler — 14
- Jeremy Fears Jr. — 10
- Coen Carr — 7
- Carson Cooper — 7
Rebounds
- Jaxon Kohler — 11
- Jesse McCulloch — 4
- Carson Cooper — 4
Assists
- Jeremy Fears Jr. — 6
- Jaxon Kohler — 2
- Jordan Scott — 2