PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Jeremy Fears scored 27 of his career-high 29 points in the second half and overtime, and No. 7 Michigan State outlasted Rutgers 88-79 on Tuesday night.
Fears also had nine assists, including a pass to Divine Ugochukwu for the 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 two free throws by Jaxon Kohler, it was their first lead since they were ahead 9-8. Michigan State pushed ahead 78-73 and led comfortably from there on the way to its seventh straight win.
Tariq Francis scored 23 points and missed a floater at the regulation buzzer that could have won it for Rutgers, (9-12, 2-8) which has lost four in a row.
Fears was 16 of 17 from the free-throw line and 6 of 12 from the field. Coen Carr scored 13 points for the Spartans, and Carson Cooper had 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Harun Zrno added 16 points for the Scarlet Knights, Jamichael Davis had 15 and Darren Buchanan Jr. scored 14.
Rutgers went the final 4:40 of regulation without a field goal. The Scarlet Knights converted 8 of 9 free throws, five by Davis, during that span.
The Scarlet Knights scored 17 points off 10 Spartans turnovers to grab a 37-28 halftime lead. It was the fewest points the Spartans have scored in the first half this season and just the third time they have trailed at the break.
Up next
Michigan State hosts No. 3 Michigan on Friday.
Rutgers is at UCLA on Tuesday.
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