Jeremy Fears Jr. breaks Michigan State’s single-season assists record, but sixth-seeded UCLA holds off a furious Spartans comeback in the Big Ten quarterfinals in Chicago.
Despite trailing by as many as 15 points in the second half, the third-seeded Spartans rallied to within two points in the final minute, but clutch free throws and a late layup from UCLA sealed the win and ended Michigan State’s run in the conference tournament.
The Bruins improve to 23–10, while Michigan State drops to 25–7 and will now turn its focus to the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on Sunday as the program seeks its 28th consecutive March Madness appearance.
While the loss was a tough one for the Spartans, Jeremy Fears Jr. delivered a historic performance.
The redshirt sophomore scored 21 points and dished out 13 assists, setting a Michigan State single-season record with 294 assists, surpassing the previous mark of 291 set by Cassius Winston during the 2018–19 season.
Fears has now scored in double figures in 20 straight games and recorded his ninth 20-point performance this season, continuing a breakout year that has solidified him as one of the Big Ten’s premier guards.
Bruins’ Hot Shooting Sets the Tone
UCLA’s offensive efficiency proved to be the difference in the game.
The Bruins shot 55.6 percent from the field and connected on 48.1 percent from three-point range, building a commanding lead by halftime.
UCLA went into the locker room ahead 44–33, fueled by a stretch where Michigan State went more than five minutes without a field goal late in the first half.
The Bruins also shot an impressive 63 percent from the floor in the first half, creating the cushion they would ultimately need to survive the Spartans’ late surge.
