Michigan State basketball achieved a decisive 106-72 victory over Northern Iowa on Friday at the Breslin Center.
The Spartans delivered a dominant performance, setting a program record by sinking 18 shots from beyond the arc on 37 attempts, according to the Lansing State Journal.
Freshman guard Jasiah Jervis led the offensive charge for the Spartans, contributing 20 points and hitting five of his six attempts from 3-point range.
Jeremy Fears Jr. also reached a milestone in the win, tallying 24 points to help pace the starting backcourt.
Despite the high-scoring outcome, the game featured a physical style of play that resulted in 33 fouls being called by the officials during the first half alone.
The Spartans were forced to navigate foul trouble, with seven different players recording two fouls before the halftime break, as noted by Yahoo Sports.
Head coach Tom Izzo received feedback on areas for improvement, specifically regarding the team’s need to maintain physical defensive intensity without committing excessive fouls.
Junior Kur Teng also saw significant action, playing 17 minutes and contributing two successful 3-pointers.
Teng, who is recovering from offseason foot surgery, is viewed as a vital bench weapon for the squad as the season progresses.
The win follows a wire-to-wire victory over Duke earlier in the week, signaling a strong start for the Michigan State program.
The Spartans’ ability to generate offense from the perimeter appears to be a defining strength of this year’s roster, per the outlets reported.
While the team demonstrated its offensive capabilities, the coaching staff continues to emphasize consistency on both ends of the floor.
As the team looks ahead, the focus remains on refining defensive execution and maintaining shooting efficiency in tighter contests.
The Spartans successfully controlled the tempo in the second half to secure the 34-point margin of victory against their Missouri Valley Conference opponent.