The No. 22 Michigan State Spartans used a late run to pull away from the Colgate Raiders, securing an 80-69 victory. Four Spartans scored in double figures, led by Joey Hauser’s 20 points. The team’s balanced offense and strong defensive effort in the second half propelled them to the win.
Michigan State started strong, taking an early 10-2 lead. However, Colgate fought back, and the game remained close throughout the first half. The Raiders’ Tucker Richardson scored 12 points in the first half, including three three-pointers, to keep his team within striking distance. At halftime, the Spartans held a slim 37-35 lead.
In the second half, Michigan State’s offense began to click, with Hauser and Tyson Walker leading the charge. The Spartans pushed their lead to 10 points with just over 10 minutes remaining, but Colgate refused to back down. The Raiders cut the deficit to five points with 5:30 left, setting up a thrilling finish.
That’s when Michigan State’s defense took over, holding Colgate to just two field goals over the final 5:30. The Spartans, meanwhile, scored 12 points in the final 4:30, including six from Hauser, to seal the win. Walker added 17 points, while A.J. Hoggard and Malik Hall chipped in with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
The Spartans’ victory was also fueled by their dominance on the glass, outrebounding Colgate 43-26. Michigan State’s bench outscored the Raiders’ reserves 23-10, providing a significant boost. The win improved the Spartans’ record to 2-0, while Colgate fell to 1-1.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo was pleased with his team’s resilience and ability to close out the game. “I thought our guys showed a lot of grit and toughness,” Izzo said. “We didn’t play great, but we played well enough to win.” The Spartans will look to build on this momentum as they face their next challenge. With a strong team effort and balanced scoring, Michigan State appears poised for a successful season.