EAST LANSING, Mich. – In a preseason exhibition held at the Breslin Center, No. 6 Michigan State fell to No. 4 UConn, 78-70, providing an early test against a top-tier opponent. Jeremy Fears Jr. led the Spartans with 23 points and eight assists, while freshman Jasiah Jervis contributed 11 points, including two 3-pointers.
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The Spartans faced challenges offensively in the first half, recording a shooting percentage of just 36% and hitting only one of eight attempts from three-point range. This allowed UConn to build a 30-22 lead by halftime.
Michigan State returned to the court in the second half with increased intensity, quickly scoring six unanswered points to narrow the deficit to 30-28 with 17:30 remaining. Fears was instrumental during this stretch, facilitating two early scores and then adding a basket of his own.
Despite their efforts, the Spartans trailed by four at 48-44 with just over 11 minutes left. UConn responded vigorously with a run that included six consecutive successful field goals, leading to an 11-point advantage at 64-50, bolstered by Colben Landrew's 11 points in the second half.
Michigan State attempted a late-game comeback, but UConn managed to maintain their edge and secured the victory. Fears showcased his athleticism with a notable one-handed dunk in the first half, further solidifying his reputation as a preseason All-American.
This matchup was the third between the two programs in the last year; UConn previously won an exhibition against Michigan State last October and eliminated them from the NCAA Tournament in March with a 67-63 win. The exhibition result does not affect the regular-season records of either team.
Michigan State's next game will be against Marquette in Milwaukee on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. ET, marking their final exhibition before officially opening the 2026-27 regular season at home against Quinnipiac on Monday, Nov. 2.