Freshman guard Jase Richardson scored a career-high 20 points and No. 8 Michigan State earned its 12th straight victory, beating Rutgers on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, 81-74.
Coen Carr added 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting for the Spartans (17-2, 8-0 Big Ten) and pulled down eight rebounds. Michigan State is riding its longest winning streak since a 13-game run during the 2018-19 season — the most recent of its eight teams to reach the Final Four under Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo.
Jordan Derkack scored a game-high 26 points off the bench in a home game for Rutgers (10-10, 3-6), playing in front of a crowd of 17,480 about 38 miles from his New Jersey campus. Ace Bailey made 18 on 4-of-17 shooting with nine rebounds.
Rutgers star freshman Dylan Harper, limited by a sprained ankle, came off the bench for the first time this season and finished with six points in 13 minutes. He played for about two minutes in the second half. Harper, who averages 19.3 points, sprained an ankle in Monday’s loss at Penn State.
Takeaway
Michigan State: Richardson, the son of Spartans great Jason Richardson, and Carr came off a deep bench that is a huge strength for the Spartans. Michigan State’s second unit dominated Rutgers Reserves 50-34.
(Learn more: Like father, like son: Sons of former NBA stars in college basketball this season)
Rutgers: Another disappointing performance for a team hammered with two highly touted freshman recruits and top NBA prospects in Bailey and Harper who started the season ranked in the AP top 25.
Key moments
Carr threw down a couple of thunderous dunks — one that gave Michigan State a 58-46 lead with 8:38 left.
Key statistics
Michigan State is 12-0 since Tre Holloman moved into the starting lineup. MSU held Rutgers to 34% and led for over 33 minutes.
The next
Michigan State hosts Minnesota on Tuesday, after winning the first meeting 90-72 on the road in their Big Ten opener on December 4. Rutgers visits Northwestern on Wednesday.
College basketball
Michigan State Spartans
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Get more from college basketball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
