Freshman guard Jase Richardson scored 20 points and No. 8 Michigan State earned its 12th straight win, beating Rutgers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday 81-74.
Coen Carr added 14 points on 5-5 shooting and had eight rebounds for the Spartans (17-2, 8-0 Big Ten). Michigan State is riding its longest winning streak since playing 13 games during the 2018-19 season. The most recent eight teams have reached the Final Four under Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo.
Jordan Derkack scored a season-high 26 points in a home win for Rutgers (10-10, 3-6), playing in front of a crowd some 17,480 miles away from its New Jersey campus. Ace Bailey had 18 on 4-17 shooting with nine rebounds.
Rutgers’ star freshman Dylan Harper, limited by an ankle, came off the bench for the first time this season and scored six points in 13 minutes. He played for about two minutes in the second half. Harper, who averaged 19.3 points, suffered an ankle sprain in Monday’s loss at Penn State.
take out
Michigan State: Richardson, son of Spartans Jason Richardson, and Carr come off the deep bench, a huge force for the Spartans. Michigan State’s second unit outgained the Rutgers Reserves 50-34.
(Read more: Like father, like son: The son of a former NBA star in college basketball this season)
RUTGERS: Disappointing performances from a team that had two touted freshmen in Bailey and Harper and two freshmen and NBA prospects who started the season ranked No. 25 by AP.
important moment
Carr had two soaring and outstanding dunks. One gave Michigan State a 58-46 lead with 8:38 remaining.
Key Statistics
Michigan State is 12-0 since Tre Holloman moved to the starting lineup. MSU held Rutgers to 34% shooting and led for over 33 minutes.
next time
Michigan State hosts Minnesota on Tuesday. After winning their first meeting 90-72 in the Big Ten opener on Dec. 4, Rutgers visits Northwestern on Wednesday.
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