No. 8 Michigan State holds off Rutgers to clinch Big Ten triple-bye

Jeremy Fears Jr. had 21 points and eight assists in the Spartans' victory.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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No. 8 Michigan State clinched a triple-bye in next week's Big Ten Tournament by defeating Rutgers 91-87 on Thursday night. Jeremy Fears Jr. led the Spartans with 21 points and eight assists, while Coen Carr also scored 21 points. Rutgers' Tariq Francis scored 25 points but the Scarlet Knights fell to 0-9 on the road against Michigan State.

Why it matters

This win secures a top-four seed and a triple-bye for Michigan State in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament, giving them a significant advantage. Rutgers, on the other hand, continues to struggle on the road against the Spartans, an important conference rival.

The details

Michigan State shot 58.5% from the field and held a 38-21 rebounding advantage. Rutgers made 47.7% of its shots and hit 10 of 18 from 3-point range. The Spartans pulled away in the second half, leading by as many as 19 points, before Rutgers made a late push to cut the deficit to four points in the final seconds.

  • Michigan State scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 38-30 lead.
  • Fears assisted on three consecutive dunks by Carr and Jordan Scott to give Michigan State a 46-35 lead with 15:34 left.
  • Michigan State elevated the lead to 74-55 on Carr's triple with 6:17 remaining.
  • Rutgers made a 14-3 run to cut the deficit to four points in the final 27 seconds, but Michigan State held on for the win.

The players

Jeremy Fears Jr.

A Michigan State player who had 21 points and eight assists in the game, moving into third place on the Spartans' single-season assists list.

Coen Carr

A Michigan State player who also scored 21 points in the victory.

Tariq Francis

A Rutgers player who scored 25 points with five assists and three steals in the loss.

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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)

The takeaway

This game highlights Michigan State's dominance at home in the Big Ten, as they clinched a top-four seed and triple-bye in the conference tournament. Rutgers, meanwhile, continues to struggle on the road against the Spartans, an important rival in the Big Ten.