Michigan State Star Makes NCAA History Against Louisville

Spartans point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. sets new assist record in tournament win.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:57pm

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Michigan State advanced to the Sweet 16 with a 77-69 victory over Louisville, and Spartans point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. set a new school record for most assists in an NCAA tournament game with 16, passing the previous record held by legendary Spartan Earvin "Magic" Johnson.

Why it matters

Michigan State has a storied history of producing elite point guards, and Fears' record-setting performance continues that legacy. The Spartans' deep tournament run also keeps them in contention for a return to the Final Four for the first time since 2021.

The details

Fears, who calls himself "The Floor General", dished out 16 assists in the win over Louisville, the most ever by an MSU player in the NCAA tournament. He surpassed the previous record held by Magic Johnson, who had four consecutive games with double-digit assists in the 1979 tournament, though assists were not officially recorded at the time. Fears also entered the record books earlier this season as the first Spartan to reach 300 assists in a single season.

  • On Saturday, March 21, 2026, Jeremy Fears Jr. set the Michigan State record for most assists in an NCAA tournament game with 16.
  • On Thursday, March 19, 2026, Fears had 7 points and 11 assists in Michigan State's tournament opener against North Dakota State.

The players

Jeremy Fears Jr.

A 6-foot-2, 190-pound junior guard from Joliet, Illinois, Fears is the starting point guard for Michigan State and has been a mainstay for the Spartans for three seasons. He averages 15.4 points, 9.2 assists, and 2.4 rebounds per game.

Earvin "Magic" Johnson

A legendary Michigan State point guard in the late 1970s, Johnson held the previous record for most assists by a Spartan in an NCAA tournament game before Fears surpassed it.

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What they’re saying

“This is point guard university.”

— Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State Point Guard

What’s next

The Spartans will face either UCLA or UConn in the Sweet 16 next week in Washington, D.C., as they look to reach a second consecutive Elite Eight and return to the Final Four for the first time since 2021.

The takeaway

Jeremy Fears Jr.'s record-setting performance against Louisville cements Michigan State's reputation as "Point Guard U", with a long lineage of elite floor generals including Magic Johnson, Mateen Cleaves, Cassius Winston, and others. Fears' leadership and playmaking ability have been crucial to the Spartans' deep tournament run this year.