The No. 5 Michigan State Spartans set a new school record by hitting 18 3-pointers during a dominant 104-72 victory over Northern Iowa on Friday, according to Yahoo Sports.
The team surpassed its previous single-game record of 17, which was originally established against Purdue in 2014 and later tied against Rutgers in 2016, as reported by the Detroit Free Press.
Jeremy Fears Jr. paced the offense with 24 points and nine assists, while freshman Jasiah Jervis contributed 20 points to the winning effort.
The duo combined for nine of the team’s 18 shots from behind the arc, helping the Spartans improve their season record to 4-0.
Freshman Julius Avent secured the milestone by draining the record-breaking shot with 50 seconds remaining in the contest.
Michigan State finished the night shooting 18-for-37 from long range, a performance that coach Tom Izzo used to evaluate how his squad would respond to early-season success, according to USA Today.
The game was characterized by a high volume of officiating, as 61 total fouls were called throughout the evening.
Two players from Northern Iowa fouled out as the teams struggled with the frequent stoppages in play.
Despite the interruptions, the Spartans maintained momentum by forcing 16 turnovers, which they converted into 31 points.
Jordan Scott added 11 points in the first half, while teammates Jesse McCulloch and Kur Teng also contributed multiple 3-pointers.
The Panthers, who fell to a 2-2 record, were led by Greyson Uelmen with 16 points.
Michigan State now prepares for a road test against No. 9 Tennessee on Tuesday at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville.
The Spartans hold a 5-2 all-time series lead against the Volunteers, the outlets reported.