Michigan State’s Clash with Northwestern: A Sunday Showdown!

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State’s men’s basketball squad travels for its third Big Ten Conference away game, competing at Northwestern on Sunday, Jan. 12 (noon ET, FOX). MSU, positioned at No. 16 in the Associated Press ranking and No. 14 in the USA Today Coaches ranking, is coming off an 88-54 triumph over Washington on Thursday night, marking its eighth consecutive victory.

The match will be broadcast live on FOX, with Gus Johnson and Jim Jackson narrating the entire event. The Spartan Media Network radio announcement can be accessed state-wide and online at MSUSpartans.com, with Will Tieman providing the play-by-play and Matt Steigenga serving as the analyst, while Zach Surdenik is the studio presenter. The game may also be heard on channels 170 and 195 on SiriusXM and via the SiriusXM app.

About the Spartans

• Michigan State arrives at Sunday’s game holding a record of 13-2 overall (4-0 B1G) and stands at No. 16 in the Associated Press ranking and No. 14 in the USA Today Coaches ranking.
• The Spartans are also ranked No. 16 in the NCAA Net Rankings, No. 14 according to KenPom.com and No. 16 in the ESPN BPI.
• With eight consecutive wins and 11 out of their last 12 matches, the Spartans have just one player (Jaden Akins) who scores in double figures.
• MSU is the sole team in the AP Top 25 with only one player scoring in double digits.
• MSU features four players averaging a minimum of 8.0 ppg, and 10 players tallying at least 4.0 ppg.
• The team leans on its depth, with six players averaging at least 20.0 minutes of playtime per game and 10 players getting at least 10.0 minutes.
• Akins leads the squad with 14.1 ppg and ranks third with 4.0 rpg, while freshman guard Jase Richardson averages 9.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, and sophomore forward Coen Carr is third on the roster with 8.8 points.
• Junior forward Jaxon Kohler, who has achieved four double-doubles this season, is contributing 7.9 ppg and is the top rebounder with 8.4 rebounds per game, placing 6th in the Big Ten (3rd in B1G games only with 10.0 rpg).
• Redshirt freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr. averages 7.6 points and leads the team with 6.3 assists per game, ranking 3rd in the Big Ten, while junior Tre Holloman contributes 7.3 points and 3.9 assists (4.8 in conference games).
• MSU is averaging 23.0 FT attempts per game (No. 47 nationwide) after averaging 17.2 attempts per game in 2023-24, and the Spartans hold the No. 2 rank in the country for free throw percentage (82.0%) and No. 14 for free throws made per game (18.9) …. The Spartans have made more free throws (283) than their opponents have taken (261).
• Additionally, MSU ranks No. 7 nationally in rebound margin (+10.9), No. 9 in defensive rebounds per game (29.1/g) and No. 14 in total rebounds per game (41.3).

About the Wildcats

• Northwestern approaches the game on Sunday with a 10-5 overall record and a 1-3 standing in the Big Ten Conference.
• This matchup on Sunday marks the Wildcats’ first game in a week.
• Northwestern has faced defeats in its past two games, losing 84-80 at Penn State and 79-61 at Purdue last Sunday.
• The Wildcats split their initial two conference matchups in early December, losing 80-79 at Iowa and defeating Illinois, 70-66, in overtime.
• Northwestern is undefeated at home this season with an 8-0 record.
• Junior forward Nick Martinelli leads in scoring, tied for second in the Big Ten, averaging 19.4 points per game, and ranks 11th in the league for field goal percentage (50.9), while senior guard Brooks Barnhizer is second on the squad with 19.3 points and leads with 9.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
• Northwestern ranks 16th in the league in scoring offense (74.1 ppg) and is tied for fourth in scoring defense (66.2 ppg) … In matches exclusive to Big Ten opponents, the Wildcats are tied for 11th in scoring offense (72.5 ppg) and positioned 12th in scoring defense (77.3 ppg).

Series History

• The event on Sunday between Michigan State and Northwestern will mark the 138th encounter between the institutions.
• MSU leads the all-time series against Northwestern, 95-42.
• The Spartans have prevailed in 14 of the last 18 encounters, although the Wildcats have secured victory in four of the last six.
• MSU holds a 38-32 record in games contested at Northwestern.
• The teams each claimed a victory in their two meetings last year, with each side winning on their home court.
• Tom Izzo boasts a record of 40-8 against Northwestern during his career.