Michigan State Cruises Past Buffalo in NCAA Tourney

Spartans point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. dominates with assists in first-round win.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 5:08pm

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Michigan State point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., the nation's assists leader, showcased his playmaking skills in the Spartans' easy victory over Buffalo in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at KeyBank Center on Thursday.

Why it matters

Fears' performance highlighted Michigan State's depth and balanced attack, which will be crucial as they advance deeper into the tournament. Buffalo's early exit was a disappointment for the team and its fans after a strong regular season.

The details

Fears dished out a game-high 12 assists to go along with 8 points as Michigan State cruised to a comfortable win over Buffalo. The Spartans' unselfish play and ability to get everyone involved on offense proved too much for the Bulls to handle.

  • The NCAA Tournament first-round game was played on Thursday, March 21, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.

The players

Jeremy Fears Jr.

The Michigan State point guard is the national leader in assists per game.

Michigan State

The Spartans are a perennial NCAA Tournament contender, making their 25th consecutive appearance in 2026.

Buffalo

The Bulls were making their 5th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history after a strong regular season.

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What they’re saying

“Jeremy is the engine that makes our team go. When he's distributing the ball like that, we're really tough to stop.”

— Tom Izzo, Michigan State Head Coach

What’s next

Michigan State will face the winner of the Gonzaga-Arkansas game in the second round on Saturday.

The takeaway

Michigan State's unselfish, team-first approach led by floor general Jeremy Fears Jr. makes them a dangerous March Madness contender, while Buffalo's early tournament exit was a disappointment after their successful regular season.