EAST LANSING — For the first time this season, Michigan State Basketball will be faced with two new circumstances.
Play after a defeat. And play a real road game.
Ninth in the ranking Spartansafter a home loss to No. 3 Duke, will resume Big Ten play against Penn State in University Park, Pa., on Saturday, Dec. 13 (noon, Big Ten Network).
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“We have concerns like we always have,” MSU coach Tom Izzo said after practice Thursday. “But they’re getting a little bit more because of the circumstances we’re facing. … Hopefully we’ve gotten over our little hangover from losing that home game.”
Here’s a look at what to expect from the final Big Ten game of 2025 for MSU (8-1, 1-0) against the Rising Nittany Lions (8-2, 0-1).
Fuel a fire
Michigan State’s Jaxon Kohler drives against Penn State during the second half on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
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MSU is off to the finals this week after 66-60 defeat Saturday against the Blue Devils at the Breslin Center, one national television opportunity at a time Izzo and his players felt like they were letting go. This spoiled the Spartans» Eight-game season-opening winning streak, including neutral-court wins over Kentucky and North Carolina and a home win over Arkansas.
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But falling home for the first time since February 11 in Indiana – MSU’s only loss last season at Breslin – also amplified the motivation.
“You can tell everyone is excited for the next game,” senior forward Jaxon Kohler said after Thursday’s practice. “Everyone is looking forward to getting back on the court against another team and righting our wrongs. This Duke loss lit us on fire.”
With his team facing off again in a T-shirt giveaway, Izzo expects a noisy environment at the typically quiet Bryce Jordan Center. Much like how his team received an energy boost with football coach Pat Fitzgerald’s public introduction as he crushed Iowa in the Big Ten opener Dec. 2, 71-52, Izzo believes new PSU football coach Matt Campbell will add excitement to a Penn State fan base that usually forgets about Mike Rhoades’ basketball program.
“I’m sure it will be July 4 and Christmas. … Which shouldn’t bother us, because we’re used to playing in front of big crowds, even on the road,” Izzo said. “But it could increase them. And besides, Mike is a hell of a coach.”
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MSU’s only real road test so far this season came during the exhibition season, a 76-69 loss to No. 5 UConn in Hartford, Connecticut.
Take 2
Michigan State guard Kur Teng (2) dribbles against Duke forward Cameron Boozer (12) during the second half at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.
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Understanding his two-guard situation remains one of Izzo’s biggest priorities between now and when Big Ten play resumes, with PSU and three more non-conference games — Dec. 15 at home against Toledo, Dec. 20 against Oakland in Detroit and Dec. 29 at home against Cornell — between now and the Jan. 2 trip to Nebraska.
Izzo went from sophomore Kur Teng to inserting senior transfer Trey Fort into the lineup before switching back to Teng over the past two games. Against Duke, MSU turned to lanky freshman Jordan Scott for a longer look at shooting guard, and sophomore transfer Divine Ugochukwu also split his minutes between one and two when he and starting point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. are on the court together.
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“We’ve made no secret. We’re trying to find the right thing,” Izzo said. “We give everyone a little chance.”
Among that quartet, Teng leads the way with 5.4 points per game in 14.4 minutes while Fort averages 15.8 minutes and 5.3 points. Together, the Teng-Fort-Scott-Ugochukwu group is shooting just 28.9% from 3-point range (28 for 97). The rest of the Spartans are a combined 33-for-84 from deep (39.3%).
Penn State Update
December 9, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, United States; Penn State Nittany Lions guard Kayden Mingo (4) goes to the basket against Indiana Hoosiers guard Tayton Conerway (6) during the second half at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images
Rhodes is off to his second straight strong start in three seasons with the Nittany Lions, who opened the 2024-25 campaign 12-2 before losing 13 of their last 17. PSU finished 16-15 overall and 6-14 in conference play, and it was one of three teams to fail to qualify for the 2025 Big Ten tournament.
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The Nittany Lions have feasted on mid-sized foes so far this season, with their only non-conference loss coming in a 77-65 neutral-court loss to Providence on Nov. 22. They opened Big Ten play Tuesday on the road at Indiana and were absolutely bombed, 113-72.
Point guard Kayden Mingo (6-foot-3) leads PSU in scoring with 15.4 points with four assists, 2.1 steals and 3.8 rebounds per game, while fellow freshman shooting guard Melih Tunca (6-5) is averaging 12.8 points with 3.5 assists per game. Center Ivan Juric (7-0) is averaging 9.7 points and four rebounds, while forward Josh Reed (6-10) is averaging 10 points and 3.9 rebounds. Junior guard Freddie Dilione (6-5) adds 13.3 points per game coming off the bench.
MSU has won four straight and seven of its last eight meetings against the Nittany Lions.
Chris Solari’s prediction
The surge of energy is short-lived for the Nittany Lions, as the Fears and Spartans quickly assert themselves with a distance run from the start. The friendly rims open up for MSU’s outside shooters from there, giving Izzo’s team a two-game cushion to begin the quest to repeat as Big Ten champions before 2026. The choice: MSU 82, Penn State 69.
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Contact Chris Solari: [email protected]. Follow him @chrissolari.
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This article was originally published on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State basketball takes new test with first true road game
