Michigan State Spartans Rout UCLA Bruins in Emphatic Home Win

Spartans head coach Tom Izzo pleased with team's dominant performance after recent struggles

Feb. 20, 2026 at 8:31pm

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The Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team delivered an emphatic 82-59 victory over the UCLA Bruins at the Breslin Center on Tuesday night. Led by a dominant first-half performance and a season-high 14 made three-pointers, the No. 15 Spartans bounced back after losing three of their last four games. Head coach Tom Izzo was pleased with his team's improved play, especially the balanced scoring effort beyond star point guard Jeremy Fears Jr.

Why it matters

This win was an important bounce-back performance for the Spartans, who had struggled in recent games. The dominant victory over a quality opponent like UCLA could provide a much-needed confidence boost for Michigan State as they look to solidify their position in the Big Ten standings and make a push towards the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Michigan State shot an impressive 51.9% from three-point range, making a season-high 14 threes on 27 attempts. This was a stark contrast to their previous game against Wisconsin, where they struggled from deep. Fears Jr. led the Spartans with 16 points and 10 assists, but he also received more help from his teammates, who combined for 11 assists outside of Fears. Izzo noted that the Spartans' performance was much better than what he had seen on film of UCLA in recent days.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan.

The players

Tom Izzo

The head coach of the Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team.

Jeremy Fears Jr.

The starting point guard for the Michigan State Spartans, who led the team with 16 points and 10 assists in the win over UCLA.

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What they’re saying

“You can see why I like football better than basketball. We go to Wisconsin, and we can't make a shot, and they can't miss one. And we come here, and we can't miss a shot, and they [UCLA] can't make one. And then Wisconsin goes to Ohio State, and they can't hit a three. My sport is harder than yours. It's harder to coach.”

— Tom Izzo, Head Coach, Michigan State Spartans

What’s next

The Spartans will look to build on this dominant performance as they continue their Big Ten schedule. Their next game is scheduled for Saturday, February 22nd against the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The takeaway

This win showcases the Spartans' ability to bounce back from recent struggles and deliver a complete, dominant performance against a quality opponent. If Michigan State can maintain this level of play, they could make a strong push towards the NCAA Tournament and potentially contend for a Big Ten title.