PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Jeremy Fiers scored 27 of his career-high 29 points in the second half and overtime and No. 7 Michigan State beat Rutgers 88-79 on Tuesday night.
Fiers also dished out nine assists, including a pass to Divine Ugochukwu, who hit a tying 3-pointer from the corner with 11 seconds left in regulation.
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When the Spartans (19-2, 9-1 Big Ten) scored the first points of overtime on a pair of Jaxon Kohler free throws, it was their first lead since going up 9-8. Michigan State led 78-73 and held a comfortable lead from there, winning its seventh straight game.
Tariq Francis scored 23 points but missed a shot at the buzzer in regulation that would have helped Rutgers (9-12, 2-8) win its fourth straight game.
Fiers made 16 of 17 free throws and 6 of 12 field goals. Cohen Carr scored 13 points for the Spartans, and Carson Cooper had 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Harun Zrno scored 16 points for the Scarlet Knights, Jamichael Davis scored 15 points and Darren Buchanan Jr. scored 14 points.
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Rutgers went without a field goal in the final 4 minutes and 40 seconds of regulation. During this period, the Scarlet Knights made eight of nine free throw attempts, including five by Davis.
The Spartans committed 10 turnovers and the Red Knights scored 17 points to lead 37-28 at halftime. It was the fewest points the Spartans have scored in a first half this season and the third time they trailed at halftime.
Next
Michigan State will host No. 3 Michigan on Friday.
Rutgers is at UCLA on Tuesday.
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