Atlanta, Ga. – In a thrilling showdown that showcased the intensity of college basketball, Michigan State engaged in a grueling back-and-forth battle against the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks for more than 30 minutes. Ultimately, the Jayhawks surged ahead in the closing stages, securing a 77-69 victory over the Spartans during the Champions Classic held at State Farm Arena on Tuesday night. Senior forward Frankie Fidler emerged as a notable performer with 12 points and eight rebounds, demonstrating his all-around contribution. Junior forward Jaxon Kohler also shone brightly, contributing 12 points while securing 10 rebounds for his second consecutive double-double. Redshirt freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr. added depth to the effort with nine points, alongside six assists and three rebounds.
Records
Following this defeat, Michigan State’s overall record stands at 2-1, while Kansas boasts an undefeated 3-0 record.
Recap
- The Spartans faced a six-point deficit at halftime, trailing 30-24, as both teams grappled with their shooting accuracy during the first half.
- The second half commenced with MSU narrowing the gap to just two points, 30-28, following a pair of successful free throws from Fears and Fidler, leading to a fierce back-and-forth rhythm for the remainder of the game.
- With the scoreboard reading 37-32 in favor of Kansas, the Spartans ignited a 7-2 run. Junior guard Tre Holloman initiated it with a compelling step-back jumper, followed by Kohler’s hook shot and traditional three-point play, tying the game at 39 with 14:04 still remaining.
- Kansas managed to reclaim a five-point advantage with a score of 52-47, but free throws from Fidler coupled with a crucial 3-pointer from Kohler tied the contest again at 52, prompting a timeout by the Jayhawks.
- In response to Michigan State’s resurgence, Kansas launched a decisive 6-0 run to edge ahead 58-52, bolstered by a free throw from Hunter Dickinson with 7:17 left in the game.
- Fidler’s layup at 6:27 and an impressive and-one play shortly afterward allowed the Spartans to close the gap to within three points at 60-57, yet Dajuan Harris’ consecutive baskets pushed Kansas further ahead to a 68-59 lead with just 4:25 remaining.
- Despite a late surge, MSU managed to reduce their deficit to 74-69 with a critical three-pointer from Fidler in the waning moments, but they could not bridge the gap any further.
- The Spartans had the lead on six occasions during the game, the last being a floater from Fears that put MSU ahead 18-16 with 5:30 left in the first half.
- Following an early first-half setback, Kansas orchestrated a commanding 14-2 run over 4:52, taking a substantial 30-20 lead before the Spartans regrouped to counter with a three-point play from freshman guard Jase Richardson, concluding the first half trailing by just six points at 30-24.
Key Stats
- Michigan State endured a challenging first half, shooting a mere 25.8 percent from the field (8-of-31) and an abysmal 9.1 percent from beyond the arc (1-of-11).
- In contrast, the Spartans improved to 42.1 percent shooting from the floor in the second half (16-of-38), yet struggled from three-point range, finishing at 12.5 percent (3-of-24) for the entire game.
- Kansas demonstrated dominance on the boards, out-rebounding Michigan State 47 to 43.
- Turning the ball over 11 times, including seven in the first half, hampered the Spartans’ efforts throughout the game.
Notes
- With this latest contest, Michigan State holds a 5-9 record in the history of the Champions Classic and maintains a 2-3 record against Kansas.
- This event marked the fourth occasion the Spartans faced a top-ranked team during the Champions Classic, with three of those encounters resulting in losses, having previously defeated No. 1 Kentucky in a thrilling 78-74 match in 2013.
- The Spartans’ historical tally against teams ranked No. 1 now stands at 5-23.
- Kansas holds a slender lead in their all-time series against Michigan State, leading 9-7, and has bested the Spartans in their last four face-offs.
- Head Coach Tom Izzo, a stalwart of the program, further solidified his legacy with a career record of 709 wins against 296 losses.
- Senior forward Frankie Fidler achieved a personal milestone with 15 points and eight rebounds.
- His impressive performance marked a career-high in scoring for the opening three games of his MSU tenure, as it signified his second consecutive game in double figures.
- Fidler has tallied double-digit scores 77 times throughout his collegiate career, amassing a total of 1,542 points over 97 games, averaging 15.9 points per game.
- Similarly, junior forward Jaxon Kohler recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds for his second-consecutive double-double.
- He became the first Spartan to achieve back-to-back double-doubles since Joey Hauser in December 2020.
- Kohler also scored in double figures for the second consecutive game and the fourth time in his career.
- This match constituted his third career game with 10 or more rebounds and he has led his team in rebounding in two games this season and five times overall in his career.
- Redshirt freshman guard Jeremy Fears Jr. demonstrated excellent floor management, leading the team in assists with six for the third time this season.
- Throughout his 15-game career thus far, he has exceeded five assists in six instances.
Up Next
Michigan State returns home this weekend, set to face Bowling Green on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Breslin Center at 6 p.m.
**Interview with Frankie Fidler, Senior Forward of Michigan State Spartans**
**Interviewer:** Frankie, thanks for joining us. It was a hard-fought game against Kansas last night. How are you feeling about the performance despite the loss?
**Frankie Fidler:** Thanks for having me. You know, it’s always tough to lose, especially in a big game like this. But I’m proud of how we battled. We came out strong, and we showed that we can compete with one of the top teams in the country. There were definitely moments that we can build from.
**Interviewer:** You posted 12 points and 8 rebounds last night. How did you feel contributing to the team efforts during those crucial moments?
**Frankie Fidler:** It felt good to contribute on both ends of the court. Rebounding is something I’ve always focused on, because every possession matters. I just try to do whatever it takes to help the team, whether that’s scoring, getting boards, or setting good screens.
**Interviewer:** The first half was particularly challenging, shooting just 25.8% from the field. What do you think contributed to that slow start?
**Frankie Fidler:** I think we came out a bit nervous, which is understandable given the setting and the opponent. We struggled to find our rhythm, and that affected our shooting. But credit to Kansas too; they played great defense. In the second half, we made adjustments and improved our shooting, but it just wasn’t enough in the end.
**Interviewer:** You managed to tie the game a few times in the second half. What was your mindset during those stretches when the momentum seemed to shift?
**Frankie Fidler:** It’s all about staying confident and believing in each other. When we tied the game, it felt like we had them on the ropes for a moment. We just needed to stay focused and keep executing. But Kansas has experience and depth, and they made the plays down the stretch that we couldn’t.
**Interviewer:** Moving forward, how can the team build on this experience as you continue the season?
**Frankie Fidler:** This game gives us a benchmark. We learned that we can play with anyone but need to improve our consistency and execution, especially against top-ranked teams. We’ll look at our mistakes, especially the turnovers, and work on our shooting. We have a lot of talent, and if we can harness that, we’ll be in great shape.
**Interviewer:** Thanks, Frankie. Good luck with the rest of the season!
**Frankie Fidler:** Thank you! We appreciate the support. Go Spartans!
