No. 9 Michigan State Tops Cornell 114-97

East Lansing, Michigan – The ninth-ranked Michigan State Spartans overcame a sluggish first half to dominate the second and secure a 114-97 victory over the Cornell Big Red on Monday night at the Breslin Center, wrapping up their nonconference schedule with a decisive win.

Michigan State, now 12-1 on the season, trailed for much of the opening period but found its rhythm after halftime, outscoring Cornell 59-44 in the final 20 minutes. The Spartans' comeback was fueled by improved defense and balanced scoring, with six players reaching double figures. Jeremy Fears Jr. led the way with a career-high 21 points and 11 assists, including a buzzer-beating floater that gave Michigan State a 55-53 halftime lead. Coen Carr added 19 points, highlighted by a strong alley-oop finish, while Jaxon Kohler notched 11 points and 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Trey Fort contributed 14 points, Divine Ugochukwu had 12, and Kur Teng finished with 10.

Cornell, which fell to 6-6, controlled the early action with sharp three-point shooting, jumping to a 16-4 lead and holding double-digit advantages at times. The Big Red entered the game averaging 90.4 points per contest and...