Michigan State Stuns Purdue in Big Ten Showdown

Spartans coach Tom Izzo sees 'different mentality' in team's big road win

Feb. 27, 2026 at 4:36am

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The No. 13 Michigan State Spartans defeated the No. 8 Purdue Boilermakers 76-74 in a key Big Ten matchup on Thursday night. The Spartans, led by a balanced scoring attack, earned their first win at Purdue's Mackey Arena in over 12 years, impressing head coach Tom Izzo with the team's 'different mentality' in the victory.

Why it matters

This win over a fellow national title contender is a significant boost for Michigan State's NCAA Tournament hopes, as the Spartans continue to build momentum heading into the postseason. Izzo's comments about the team's mentality suggest the Spartans may be peaking at the right time.

The details

Michigan State had seven players score at least 8 points, led by Carson Cooper's 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Kur Teng added 13 points off the bench, while Jeremy Fears Jr. contributed 12 points and 6 assists. The Spartans' balanced attack allowed them to earn their first win at Purdue's Mackey Arena since 2011.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 27, 2026.
  • Michigan State had not won at Mackey Arena in 4,389 days, or over 12 years.

The players

Tom Izzo

The 71-year-old head coach of the Michigan State Spartans, who has led the program to 8 Final Four appearances and 1 national championship.

Carson Cooper

A Michigan State player who led the team with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the win over Purdue.

Kur Teng

A Michigan State player who scored 13 points off the bench in the victory.

Jeremy Fears Jr.

A Michigan State player who contributed 12 points and 6 assists in the Spartans' win.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Spartans will look to build on this big win when they travel to Bloomington to face the Indiana Hoosiers on Sunday, March 1st.

The takeaway

This victory over a top-10 opponent on the road shows that the Michigan State Spartans have the mentality and talent to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Tom Izzo's comments about his team's 'different mentality' suggest the Spartans are peaking at the right time and could be a force to be reckoned with in March.