EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Jeremy Fiers Jr. had 16 points and 10 assists to lead No. 15 Michigan State to an 82-59 victory over UCLA on Tuesday night.
The Spartans (21-5, 11-4 Big Ten) bounced back with a strong performance this week after losing three of four games and falling five spots in the AP Top 25. Fiers scored 11 points in the first half to help Michigan State build a 20-point advantage.
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The Bruins (17-9, 9-6) have lost two in a row after winning five of six games.
UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau scored 22 points but didn’t provide much help. None of his teammates scored in double figures until Skyy Clark scored 12 points on a late shot.
Phils hit three three-pointers in the first half, and Michigan State entered the break with a 43-23 lead. He hit four three-pointers in the game, a career high.
In the first half, the Spartans made 8 of 14 three-pointers and 14 of 27 three-pointers, setting a season high.
Michigan State’s Coen Carr scored 16 points, Carson Cooper had 12 points and freshman Jordan Scott had 11 points. Jaxon Kohler added 9 points and 10 rebounds.
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The Bruins trailed by 28 points in the second half against No. 1 Michigan State on Saturday before losing by 30 points. On Tuesday, they suffered another crushing defeat in the same state.
UCLA center Steven Jamerson, a former Michigan State commit, was called for a flagrant foul late in the game for fouling Cooper from behind on a dunk attempt. Bruins head coach Mick Cronin then sent Jamerson to the locker room.
Bruins center Xavier Booker, who transferred from Michigan State last April, had 2 points and 2 rebounds in 25 minutes.
Next
UCLA hosts No. 10 Illinois on Saturday.
Michigan State hosts Ohio State on Sunday.
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