East Lansing, Mich. – No. 17 Michigan State defeated San Jose State 79-60 on Friday, securing their third-straight win to start the season. The Spartans dominated on both ends of the court,showcasing a balanced attack led by strong performances from Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper.
head Coach Tom Izzo continued his winning ways,improving his career record to 740-302 and extending his dominance over San Jose State Head Coach Tim Miles to 8-3,a record that includes ten games when Miles was at Nebraska. This victory reinforces Michigan State‘s strong November record,now standing at 163-47 all-time and 107-4 at the Breslin Center. Izzo is now 85-1 at home in November and 128-43 overall for the month.The win provides a confidence boost as the Spartans prepare for a significant challenge next week.
Jaxon Kohler led the Spartans in both scoring and rebounding, delivering a dominant performance with 17 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. It marked his second double-double of the season and the 11th of his career. Kohler’s 18 boards were the most by a Michigan State player since Miles Bridges grabbed 21 against Savannah State on December 31, 2017.
Carson Cooper also had a standout game, scoring a career-best 17 points and adding seven rebounds and a career-high four steals. Jeremy Fears Jr. contributed 15 points, nine assists, and five rebounds, marking the third consecutive game this season with at least nine assists. Sophomore guard Kur Ten added a career-high 10 points to the Spartans’ offensive effort.
Michigan State will next travel to New York City to face No. 9 Kentucky in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, November 18. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN,with Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas providing commentary.
