Michigan State Defeats Ohio State in Big Ten Matchup

East Lansing, Mich. – No. 15 Michigan State defeated Ohio State 66-60 on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at the Breslin Center. The victory moves the Spartans into a third-place tie in the Big Ten Conference with No. 9 Nebraska and No. 7 Purdue.

Game Highlights

Carson Cooper led Michigan State with a career-high 20 points and 11 rebounds. Jeremy Fears added 11 points and eight assists for the Spartans (22-5, 12-4 Big Ten). Ohio State (17-10, 9-7) was led by Bruce Thornton, who scored 32 points.

Key Stats

• Michigan State: Carson Cooper (20 points, 11 rebounds), Jeremy Fears (11 points, 8 assists)
• Ohio State: Bruce Thornton (32 points), Christoph Tilly (10 points)

Buckeyes Struggle Without Key Players

Ohio State played without Devin Royal due to illness and John Mobley due to injury, missing a combined 29 points per game. Despite Thornton’s strong performance, the rest of the Buckeyes team shot just 11 of 30 from the field. Thornton scored 27 points on Tuesday when Ohio State beat No. 24 Wisconsin 86-69.

Close Finish

Michigan State held a double-digit lead late in the game, but Ohio State rallied, scoring seven straight points to pull within three. Jordan Scott made one of two free throws with 9.8 seconds remaining, and Cooper sealed the win with two free throws.

What’s Next

Ohio State will travel to Iowa on Wednesday. Michigan State will face No. 7 Purdue on Thursday.

Michigan State vs. Ohio State: Historical Record

As of February 22, 2026, Michigan State leads the series against Ohio State 33-20. Michigan State holds a 18-7 record at home against the Buckeyes. View the full series history.