Michigan State coach Tom Izzo led his team to an 86-74 victory over Oregon in a thrilling come-from-behind win at the Breslin Center. The Spartans, trailing by 14 points at halftime, staged a remarkable comeback that saw them outscore Oregon 53-26 in the second half.
Izzo, who is set to tie Indiana’s Bob Knight for most Big Ten victories in history with this win, was visibly emotional as he celebrated his team’s success. The victory marked Izzo’s 353rd Big Ten win and came after a tumultuous week that saw Michigan State lose two games in California and fall into a second-place tie in the conference.
Junior guard Jase Richardson, who made his first start of the season, scored 29 points and played a key role in the Spartans’ resurgence. The young guard’s performance was aided by his father, Jason Richardson, who is a former Spartan player and was in attendance at the game.
The team’s defense, which had struggled in previous games, came together to hold Oregon to just 0-for-8 shooting from three-point range in the second half. Izzo’s passion and frustration with certain calls on the court also seemed to energize his team, as they went on a 10-2 run late in the game.
The win moved Michigan State (19-4, 10-2 Big Ten) into second place in the conference, just behind Purdue. The Spartans will look to build on this momentum when they host Indiana at home on Tuesday night, where Izzo is set to tie Knight’s record for most Big Ten victories.
Source: https://eu.detroitnews.com/story/sports/columnists/bob-wojnowski/2025/02/08/wojo-with-stirring-comeback-big-numbers-keep-rising-for-tom-izzo-michigan-state-spartans/78365289007