Michigan State Upsets Purdue, Ends 12-Year Losing Streak at Mackey Arena

Spartans rally late to defeat top-10 Boilermakers in Big Ten showdown

Feb. 27, 2026 at 3:18am

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Michigan State's men's basketball team pulled off an impressive road upset over No. 8 Purdue on Thursday night, winning 76-74 and snapping a 12-year losing streak at Mackey Arena. The Spartans overcame an early deficit and made key plays down the stretch to secure the victory, keeping their slim Big Ten title hopes alive.

Why it matters

This win is a significant milestone for the Michigan State program, as they had not defeated Purdue at Mackey Arena since 2014. It demonstrates the Spartans' resilience and ability to win tough road games against top-ranked opponents, which will be crucial as they make a push for the Big Ten championship and NCAA Tournament seeding.

The details

Michigan State found themselves down 7 points early, but responded with a 10-0 run to get back in the game. The two teams traded leads throughout, with neither side going up by more than 5 points. The Spartans were able to build an 8-point lead late, but Purdue rallied to make it close at the end. Ultimately, a last-second 3-pointer by Purdue's Braden Smith came up short as time expired, securing the victory for Michigan State.

  • The last time Michigan State won at Mackey Arena was in February 2014, a span of 12 years.
  • Thursday night's game was played on February 27, 2026.

The players

Carson Cooper

Led Michigan State with 15 points and 6 rebounds.

Kur Teng

Scored 13 points off the bench for the Spartans.

Braden Smith

Purdue's All-American who had a last-second 3-pointer to tie the game come up short.

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What they’re saying

“Wow! What a win for the Spartans at Purdue on Thursday”

— Robert Bondy, Author (yahoo.com)

What’s next

Michigan State will travel to Indiana this weekend for another key Big Ten road game on Sunday afternoon.

The takeaway

This victory over a top-10 Purdue team on the road demonstrates Michigan State's ability to win tough games away from home, which will be crucial as they make a push for the Big Ten title and secure a high NCAA Tournament seed. The Spartans have proven they can compete with the conference's elite teams.