Michigan State Pulls Away Late To Defeat Oregon Ducks

The Michigan State Spartans proved once again why they’re among the elite in college basketball, notching a gritty 68-52 victory over the Oregon Ducks on January 20, 2026, at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon. For the Spartans, this marked their fifth consecutive win, while the Ducks tumbled to their fifth straight loss, continuing a challenging stretch for the embattled Pac-12 program.

Heading into this high-stakes Big Ten clash, Michigan State came in riding a four-game winning streak, boasting a 16-2 overall record and a 6-1 mark in conference play. Their recent 80-63 triumph over Washington, highlighted by Jeremy Fears Jr.’s 19 points and five assists, had set the tone for a confident squad. Oregon, conversely, was searching for answers. The Ducks stood at 8-10 overall and 1-6 in the Big Ten, still reeling from an 81-71 home loss to No. 2 Michigan just three days prior. Injuries to star point guard Jackson Shelstad (hand) and center Nate Bittle (lower leg) had left the Ducks scrambling for offensive production and leadership on the floor.

The matchup was historic in its own right. It was Michigan State’s first-ever game in Eugene as conference-mates with the Ducks, and only their second trip to the city in program history—the last one dating back to December 1969, when the Spartans fell 87-82. Legendary coach Tom Izzo, well aware of the schedule’s growing intensity, stressed the importance of finishing the West Coast swing strong, saying, “We want to keep this momentum going and make a statement on the road.”

From the opening tip, the contest lived up to its billing as a tightly contested affair. Oregon struck first, but Michigan State wasted no time, building a seven-point lead by the first media timeout and stretching it to 13-4. The Ducks, however, refused to fold. Despite their struggles from long range this season, Oregon found some rhythm, hitting four of their first seven three-point attempts to stay within striking distance. The Spartans, meanwhile, dealt with a four-minute scoring drought and some uncharacteristic turnovers, finishing the half with seven giveaways to Oregon’s three.

At halftime, Michigan State clung to a narrow 28-26 lead. Carson Cooper paced the Spartans with nine points and five rebounds, while Coen Carr had already made his presence felt by knocking down two shots from deep. Notably, star forward Jaxon Kohler saw limited action, logging only seven minutes in the first half due to early foul trouble—a factor that seemed to hamper Michigan State’s rhythm on both ends.

“We knew Oregon would come out with energy, especially at home,” Cooper reflected postgame. “It was about staying composed and sticking to our game plan.”

The second half opened with both teams trading buckets, but Oregon briefly seized momentum around the 14-minute mark, grabbing a three-point edge. The Ducks’ makeshift lineup, cobbled together in the absence of Shelstad and Bittle, showed flashes of cohesion and grit. Sean Stewart, who had posted a career-high 22 points against Michigan, continued to battle, embodying the resilience coach Dana Altman demanded. “Guys are going to have to step up and play a bigger role,” Altman had said before the game. “We’re definitely going to need to get some more production from our wings.”

Yet, as the clock ticked down, the Spartans’ depth and discipline began to shine. Coen Carr, who had already made headlines with an and-one putback earlier in the game, took over offensively. He drilled his third three-pointer of the night—a career first—while also crashing the boards and igniting the Spartans’ transition attack. Michigan State then unleashed a devastating 25-6 run over the next several minutes, turning a nail-biter into a double-digit lead. Cooper continued to dominate inside, ultimately finishing with a new career-high 19 points and seven rebounds. Carr wasn’t far behind, tallying 15 points and eight rebounds, and providing the kind of two-way spark that coach Tom Izzo relishes.

“Coen was huge for us tonight,” Izzo remarked. “He brought energy on both sides of the ball and made some big-time plays when we needed them most.”

Oregon’s offense sputtered under the relentless Spartans pressure. The Ducks, missing their top two scorers, struggled to generate consistent looks, especially as Michigan State’s defense clamped down in the final stretch. The Spartans’ +268 scoring differential on the season—outscoring opponents by nearly 15 points per game—was on full display as they held Oregon to just 52 points, well below their season average of 75.2.

With about seven minutes remaining, Michigan State’s lead ballooned to 11 after an 18-4 surge, and they never looked back. The Spartans led by as many as 16, maintained a 13-point cushion at the final media timeout, and closed out the contest with poise. The win improved their record to 17-2 overall and 7-1 in the Big Ten, solidifying their status as conference contenders and setting up a home showdown against Maryland on January 24.

For Oregon, the loss was another tough pill to swallow. The Ducks’ four-game skid became five, and the absence of Shelstad and Bittle continued to loom large. Still, there were silver linings. Stewart’s continued growth and the team’s ability to stay competitive against a top-10 opponent offered hope for the future. “I think we came out with a lot of energy and played together and we were connected in our huddles,” Stewart said after the Michigan game, sentiments that echoed through their effort against Michigan State.

Statistically, Michigan State’s balanced attack proved too much. The Spartans entered the night averaging 79.1 points per game while allowing just 64.2, ranking among the nation’s best defensively. Their three-point shooting, led by Carr’s breakout performance, helped offset a sluggish start. Oregon, meanwhile, continued to struggle from beyond the arc and on the boards, two areas that have haunted them during this losing streak.

Fans who tuned in on Fox Sports 1 or streamed the game via Fubo, DirecTV Stream, or Sling witnessed a classic display of Big Ten basketball—hard-nosed defense, timely shooting, and a battle of wills. The Spartans’ ability to weather adversity and seize control late bodes well as the season grinds on. As for the Ducks, the hope is that health returns and the lessons learned during this tough stretch translate into wins down the road.

With the dust settled in Eugene, Michigan State heads back to East Lansing with momentum firmly in hand, while Oregon regroups and looks ahead to its next challenge. For now, the Spartans’ road dominance and the Ducks’ resilience—despite adversity—remain the stories to watch as the Big Ten season unfolds.