Kohler and Teng ignite offense, securing a crucial road win and positioning Michigan State for a significant tournament advantage.
Michigan State took care of business Sunday afternoon, earning a 77-64 road win over Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball and strengthening its grip on a top-four seed in the Big Ten Tournament.
With the victory — and Purdue’s loss to Ohio State — the Spartans remain third in the Big Ten standings. The path is now simple: win just one of the final two regular-season games and Michigan State locks up a top-four seed. That would secure a coveted triple bye in the conference tournament, meaning the Spartans wouldn’t take the floor until Friday’s quarterfinals and would need just three wins to capture the title. A drop into the 5–8 range would force them to begin play Thursday, adding an extra hurdle.
Instead, Michigan State is trending in the right direction at the perfect time.
This marked the Spartans’ second straight game in the state of Indiana, and from the opening minutes, they looked comfortable. Despite early foul trouble for Jordan Scott — who picked up two quick fouls — Michigan State never lost control of the tempo.
Jaxon Kohler came out scorching.
Kohler scored nine of Michigan State’s first 11 points and was nearly automatic early, finishing 4-for-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from three-point range in the opening stretch. He accounted for 12 of the Spartans’ first 24 points and set the tone physically and emotionally. By the time the first half settled in, Kohler and Jeremy Fears Jr. had combined for 21 of Michigan State’s first 30 points, taking over the game offensively.
Indiana tried to respond with pace, trimming the deficit to four after trailing by as many as 11, but every time the Hoosiers threatened, the Spartans had an answer. A timely triple from Kur Teng pushed the lead back to seven and quieted the building.
The alley-oop connection wasn’t quite there in the first half — Cooper was fouled on one attempt and Carr narrowly missed another — but Michigan State’s depth made up for it. The bench delivered 14 points in the first half alone, highlighted by Teng’s electric shooting. Teng poured in 12 first-half points, knocking down 4-of-5 from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes.
At halftime, Michigan State led 45-37 and had firmly established control.
The second half tightened up, but the Spartans never wavered. Teng continued to drill shots, finishing with 18 points and six made three-pointers. Every time Indiana crept within striking distance, Teng answered. It was the kind of momentum-killing shooting performance that wins games in March.
Kohler kept dominating inside. With 10 minutes remaining, he already had 21 points and eight rebounds. He eventually secured a double-double with 21 points and 13 boards, capping one of his most complete performances of the season.
Indiana’s Wilkerson kept the Hoosiers competitive, but Michigan State’s defense made sustained runs nearly impossible. The Spartans were relentless on that end, forcing difficult shots and long scoring droughts. Indiana shot just 39% from the field (22-of-56), while Michigan State connected at a 49% clip (25-of-51).
The rebounding battle also tilted green and white — 36-29 overall and 9-6 on the offensive glass. Those extra possessions mattered, especially late.
With just under three minutes to play, Indiana trimmed the lead to eight and desperately needed stops. Cooper used his length to draw a foul but missed both free throws, briefly opening the door. However, Michigan State’s defense slammed it shut. Strong rotations, contested looks, and dominant work from the bigs prevented Indiana from getting clean opportunities.
Jordan Scott, despite the early foul trouble, found his rhythm later, scoring his first field goal with 10:30 remaining in the second half. Meanwhile, Fears quietly orchestrated the offense, finishing with 21 points and nine assists — just shy of his 9.1 assist-per-game average. Michigan State totaled 15 team assists compared to Indiana’s eight, a reflection of the Spartans’ ball movement and composure.
When the final horn sounded, it was a convincing 77-64 win — one built on interior dominance, perimeter shooting, and suffocating defense.
Now, the focus shifts forward.
Michigan State returns home for its final home game of the regular season against Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball on Thursday night. The last meeting in New Jersey required overtime after a last-second Divine Ugochukwu three-pointer forced extra time before the Spartans pulled away. Rutgers won’t be intimidated.
After that, Michigan State closes the regular season on the road at Michigan Wolverines men's basketball — a team that has already clinched the outright regular-season title. The Wolverines outplayed the Spartans in their first meeting in East Lansing, and Sunday in Ann Arbor presents a chance for redemption.
One win guarantees a top-four seed and a significantly smoother path in the Big Ten Tournament. Two wins would send a powerful message heading into postseason play.
If Sunday’s performance was any indication, the Spartans are peaking at exactly the right time.