Michigan State Rallies Past Rutgers In Overtime Thriller

On a frigid January night at Jersey Mike's Arena, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights nearly delivered one of the most stunning upsets of the college basketball season, only to see the No. 7 Michigan State Spartans storm back and seize an 88-79 overtime victory. In a game brimming with drama, tactical adjustments, and clutch performances, both teams showcased grit, resilience, and a flair for the dramatic that left fans breathless until the final buzzer.

Rutgers, coming off a tough 23-point home loss to Indiana just four days earlier, looked like a team reborn from the opening tip. Head coach Steve Pikiell’s squad set the tone early, using a stifling defense and quick hands to force Michigan State into nine first-half turnovers—a stark contrast to the Spartans’ typically disciplined play. Those miscues led to a 17-0 advantage in points off turnovers for the Scarlet Knights, who capitalized on every opportunity with energetic play on both ends of the floor.

"We emphasize turnovers as much as any team in the country. Every day in practice, the team runs at the end of practice for turnovers. We spend a lot of time on that and on rebounding," Coach Pikiell explained after the game, highlighting his team’s defensive focus.

Leading the charge for Rutgers was Tariq Francis, who poured in 23 points and was perfect from the free throw line, hitting all eight attempts. Francis was electric in the first half, scoring all eight points of a pivotal 8-0 run that forced a Tom Izzo timeout and helped Rutgers build a 21-13 lead midway through the first period. By halftime, Rutgers had stretched its advantage to 37-28, holding the Spartans to just 33% shooting and limiting their high-octane transition game to a mere two fastbreak points—a far cry from their season average of 17.3 per contest.

Michigan State, though, would not go quietly. The Spartans, who entered the night riding a six-game win streak and boasting a 19-2 record, found themselves in unfamiliar territory—down double digits on the road in the Big Ten. Jeremy Fears Jr., the redshirt sophomore guard, took it upon himself to ignite the comeback. Fears was sensational, scoring 27 of his season-high 29 points in the second half and overtime, and tallying nine assists—just two shy of Rutgers’ team total.

"Jeremy Fears Jr. had other plans," noted one account of the game. Fears’ relentless drives and playmaking ability kept Michigan State within striking distance even as Rutgers maintained a double-digit lead with under ten minutes to play.

Rutgers, meanwhile, continued to find offense from a variety of sources. Freshman Harun Zrno came off the bench to hit four three-pointers and finish with 16 points, while Jamichael Davis added 15 points and five assists—his best output since late November. Darren Buchanan Jr. and Dylan Grant also reached double figures, giving Rutgers five players in double digits for the first time all season. Yet, despite their balanced attack, the Scarlet Knights struggled to close the deal.

As the clock wound down, Michigan State ramped up the pressure. The Spartans cut the deficit to five with under three minutes to play, then to three after a timeout. Rutgers tried to hold on, with Francis and Davis making crucial free throws and buckets, but the Spartans’ persistence paid off. With just over a minute left, Jeremy Fears converted a three-point play to tie the game at 67. Rutgers responded, but Michigan State’s Divine Ugochukwu delivered the dagger—a last-second three-pointer from the left wing with 11.1 seconds remaining to knot the score at 73 and force overtime.

"Divine Ugochukwu hit the game-tying three-pointer with 11.1 seconds left to force overtime," as reported by multiple sources, encapsulating the drama of the moment.

Overtime belonged to the Spartans. Rutgers, running on fumes after a relentless 40 minutes, managed just two field goals in the extra session and failed to score for over four minutes. Michigan State, by contrast, attacked the paint and capitalized at the free throw line. Fears scored the team’s final eight points from the charity stripe, and the Spartans outscored Rutgers 15-6 in overtime to secure the win.

"They got to the free-throw line, and we gave up a lot of points there. I thought we got some good looks, but we didn't finish some plays. We also left free throws on the table that we needed. It was all of those things," Coach Pikiell remarked, reflecting on what broke down for Rutgers in the late stages and overtime.

For Michigan State, the supporting cast played a crucial role. Carson Cooper posted a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds, while Coen Carr (13 points) and Jaxon Kohler (12 points) each contributed key baskets in the comeback. The Spartans dominated the boards, outrebounding Rutgers 45-22 and owning a 38-22 edge in points in the paint.

Despite the loss, Pikiell expressed pride in his team’s effort. "It was a huge bounce-back after we were not good against Indiana. They really changed their approach. We had two really good practices and our best shootaround today. Giving Michigan State credit, they cracked us on the glass. He's got some guys who really go downhill. I thought we did a good job on Kohler, who's been a real problem for everybody. We got great minutes from our guys—just came up short. But I'm proud of our guys, proud of the crowd, proud of the effort. A heck of a bounce-back," he said in his postgame remarks.

The defeat drops Rutgers to 9-12 overall and 2-8 in Big Ten play, while Michigan State improves to 19-2 and 9-1 in the conference, extending their win streak to seven games. The Scarlet Knights have shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, with two of their Big Ten wins coming in overtime, but this time, the tank ran empty against a top-10 opponent.

Rutgers now faces the challenge of a demanding West Coast trip, something Coach Pikiell believes could galvanize his young squad. "Playing the seventh-ranked team in the country like this can give us confidence. We've played minutes and halves as good as our first half today, which was as good as we've played," he noted, looking ahead.

Meanwhile, Michigan State will return home for a highly anticipated showdown with in-state rival No. 2 Michigan on January 30. With Jeremy Fears Jr. firing on all cylinders and Tom Izzo’s squad showing they can rally from adversity, the Spartans look poised for a deep postseason run. But as Rutgers proved, nothing comes easy in the Big Ten. Sometimes, it takes every ounce of determination—and a little late-game magic—to survive on the road.