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No. 15 Michigan State Holds Off Ohio State 66-60
Senior center Carson Cooper leads Spartans with 20 points and 11 rebounds
Feb. 22, 2026 at 8:55pm
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In a Big Ten matchup, No. 15 Michigan State defeated Ohio State 66-60 at Breslin Center. Senior center Carson Cooper had a team-high 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Spartans, who overcame a sluggish first half and a 32-point performance from Ohio State's Bruce Thornton.
Why it matters
The win keeps Michigan State in the hunt for a high NCAA Tournament seed, while Ohio State is still trying to cement its spot in the Big Dance. The Spartans are likely a No. 4 seed at the moment, but a strong finish could move them up to a No. 3 seed.
The details
Michigan State trailed at halftime but used a pair of key runs in the second half, fueled by Cooper's play, to rally past Ohio State. The Spartans improved to 22-5 overall and 12-4 in the Big Ten, while the Buckeyes fell to 17-10 and 9-7 in conference play.
- The game was played on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at Breslin Center.
The players
Carson Cooper
A senior center for Michigan State who scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
Bruce Thornton
A player for Ohio State who scored a game-high 32 points in the losing effort.
Tom Izzo
The head coach of the Michigan State Spartans.
What’s next
Michigan State will look to continue its strong finish to the regular season in its remaining games, with the goal of improving its NCAA Tournament seeding.
The takeaway
This game highlighted the importance of senior leadership and strong interior play, as Carson Cooper's performance was crucial in Michigan State's comeback win over Ohio State. The Spartans remain in contention for a high NCAA Tournament seed, while the Buckeyes are still fighting to solidify their tournament berth.
