East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State’s men’s basketball squad is set to play its concluding game of the 2024 calendar year on Monday, Dec. 30, welcoming in-state adversary Western Michigan at the Breslin Center at 3 p.m.
The matchup will be broadcast live on BTN, with Jason Ross Jr. and Stephen Bardo providing the commentary. The Spartan Media Network radio broadcast can be accessed statewide and online at MSUSpartans.com, featuring Will Tieman as the play-by-play announcer and Matt Steigenga as the analyst, while Zach Surdenik oversees the studio. The game is also available on channel 380 on SiriusXM and via the SiriusXM app.
About the Spartans
- Michigan State comes into Monday’s contest with an overall record of 10-2 (2-0 B1G).
- The Spartans are positioned at No. 23 in the NCAA Net Rankings, No. 15 per KenPom.com, and No. 21 in the ESPN BPI.
- MSU recently secured an 86-69 victory against Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Dec. 21, with sophomore forward Coen Carr topping four players in scoring with a career-high 17 points along with eight rebounds.
- After competing in 10 games over the first 33 days of the 2024-25 season, Monday’s home game marks just the third in the last 23 days for the Spartans.
- Including a summer excursion to Spain in August, an exhibition match at Northern Michigan (the alma mater of Head Coach Tom Izzo) on Oct. 13, and visits to Atlanta (Champions Classic), Hawaii (Maui Invitational), and Minnesota (Big Ten opener), the Spartans have accumulated over 11,500 miles of travel in the previous five-plus months.
- The Spartans, who have triumphed in five consecutive games and eight of their last nine, feature only one player (Jaden Akins) scoring in double digits, while two average at least 9.0 ppg, four at least 8.0 ppg, and five scoring no less than 4.0 ppg.
- MSU has leaned on its depth, with six players garnering an average of at least 20.0 minutes per game and seven averaging no less than 19.7 minutes.
- Akins leads the squad with 13.3 ppg and ranks second with 4.4 rpg, while freshman guard Jase Richardson averages 9.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists. Senior forward Frankie Fidler is third with 9.5 points, achieving a team-high 90.9 percent from the free-throw line (50-of-55).
- Junior forward Jaxon Kohler, who has recorded four double-doubles this season, averages 8.7 ppg and leads the team with 8.8 rebounds per game, placing him 6th in the Big Ten.
- Redshirt freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr. averages 7.8 points and leads the team with 5.9 assists per game, currently ranking 4th in the Big Ten, while junior Tre Holloman contributes 7.3 points and 3.8 assists (11th in B1G).
- MSU averages 23.6 free throw attempts per game (No. 41 nationally), following an average of 17.2 attempts in 2023-24. The Spartans rank No. 11 in the nation in free throw percentage (80.6%) and No. 14 in free throws made per game (19.0).
- MSU also holds positions of No. 5 in the nation for rebound margin (+12.2), No. 10 in defensive rebounds per game (29.6/g), and No. 12 in total rebounds per game (42.42).
About the Broncos
- Western Michigan comes into the matchup on Monday with a 3-8 overall record and is coming off a 76-73 defeat at home against Valparaiso on Dec. 20.
- The Broncos have experienced four consecutive losses, including a narrow 77-69 result at Dayton on Dec. 3.
- Western Michigan showcases four players scoring in double figures, led by junior guard Chansey Willis Jr., a native of Detroit who transferred from Henry Ford College and has played three games this season, spearheading the team with 17.0 points per game, while contributing 5.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists.
- Junior forward Markhi Strickland stands second on the team with 12.5 points, senior forward Owen Lobsinger is third with an average of 11.4 ppg and a team-high 7.0 rebounds, while junior guard JaVaughn Hannah contributes an average of 11.2 points per game.
A Sort of Homecoming
- The contest against Western Michigan marks a return for current Broncos Head Coach Dwayne Stephens, who is in his third season leading the program in Kalamazoo.
- Stephens played at Michigan State from 1989-93, received honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition as a junior, and was the co-captain of the team during the 1992-93 season, averaging 9.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.
- He made a return to MSU and devoted 19 years as an assistant coach under Tom Izzo … During his tenure on the Spartan sideline, MSU captured six Big Ten Championships, four Big Ten Tournament crowns, and advanced to five Final Fours.
- WMU Associate Head Coach Chris Fowler and assistant coach Manny Dosanjh both served at Michigan State as graduate assistants.
Series History
- Michigan State and Western Michigan are set to clash for the 40th time on Monday, Dec. 30.
- The Spartans lead the all-time series with a record of 28-11, including a 22-7 mark at home.
- MSU has emerged victorious in the last eight encounters between the teams, having won their most recent game 90-46 on Nov. 12, 2021, at the Breslin Center.
- The last time Western Michigan secured a win in this series was an 83-79 victory on Nov. 28, 1981, at Michigan State’s Jenison Fieldhouse.