Couch: 3 quick takes on Michigan State basketball's 68-52 win at Oregon

1. MSU rides a couple great performances to a win in a game they could have lost

EUGENE, Ore. — That’s how you win the Big Ten. Not that performance by Michigan State — the Spartans will have to be better in several ways against stiffer tests later in conference play. But it’s partly games like this — when you find yourself in a battle on the road against a wounded team that seems connected and up for the fight — that decide championships and seeding in the NCAA tournament. 

For the second straight game in the Pacific Northwest, MSU wasn’t its best in some the ways it has been this season. For the second straight game, it pulled away behind the deft play of point guard Jeremy Fears, and this time with outstanding games from two others in its core four, Carson Cooper and Coen Carr. 

On a night Jaxon Kohler found himself in foul trouble early and never got going offensively (taking just three shots), Carson Cooper was as close as he’ll ever be to Hakeem Olajuwon, scoring a career-high 19 points, on 8-of-10 shooting, to go with seven rebounds and four blocked shots. Coen Carr, with 15 points and eight rebounds, played with purpose we hadn’t seen from him in recent games.

And so MSU, which trailed 38-35 and led just 42-41, got away with a game that might have gone differently if not for a few great performances and a finish during which the Spartans showed a lot of the mettle we’ve seen all season.

MSU, now 17-2 and 7-1 in the Big Ten, is wins over Maryland (Saturday) and at Rutgers (next Tuesday) away from being 9-1 at the turn of league play when Michigan visits Breslin Center on Jan. 30.

Coen Carr answers emphatically — and this should be his every night

Tom Izzo won’t have to stick up for Coen Carr after this one. Three days after declaring it would be a “cold day in Hell” before he gave up on Carr after Carr uninspiring performance at Oregon and January struggles, Carr delivered an emphatic performance — best characterized by his driving layup *through* Oregon’s Sean Stewart to give the Spartans a 53-42 lead with 7:15 remaining. 

That play spoke to his mindset and aggression all night. Forget the shooting — hitting 3 of 5 3-pointers is nice and would be outstanding for him this team if he hit them more regularly. But it was the purpose with which he played all night that stood out.

Carr finished with 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. But he also pulled down eight rebounds and dished three assists, a couple of them really nice plays, in 27 minutes.

It was a heckuvan answer to a lackluster start to the month. He also showed what he’s capable of — on the glass and as a playmaker — and that should be expected every night.

A Trey Fort sighting — when MSU needed it

Trey Fort has become the odd man out for MSU’s basketball team for most of this season. He’s behind Divine Ugochukwu, Kur Teng and Jordan Scott at shooting guard, largely because he hasn’t shown he can offer something at a higher level than those three. Ugochukwu gives the Spartans secondary ball-handling, Teng is the best shooter of the group, and Scott is the best defender, rebounder and all-around impact guy.

If Fort were hitting shots at a higher clip than 29% from 3 and 32% from the floor — heading into Tuesday night — or a difference-maker defensively, he’d have a larger role. Instead, he’s getting single-digit minutes most nights, including just three against Northwestern, two against Indiana and five at Washington. To his credit, his body language and attitude have remained positive, at least in public settings and, by all accounts, around his teammates. He’s been 

That’s important, because he’s a turned ankle from a much larger role. And still a capable player and shot-maker, and someone who can create is own shot — even if sometimes early this season it wasn’t the shot Tom Izzo and Co. wanted.

Tuesday at Oregon, he played 15 minutes, including the final 8:31 of the first half and more than six minutes in the second (another long stretch). He was what he hasn’t been for MSU regularly — a better option than Scott or Teng, neither of whom played aggressively or well. 

Fort hit two jump shots n the first half, the first to put MSU ahead 23-22 and then 25-22. Both came at the time the Spartans were struggling to find offense. In the second, half, he entered the game with 13:52 remaining with the MSU trailing 38-35 and completely out of sorts offensively. On MSU’s second possession with him in the game, Fort came off a screen and buried an 18-foot jumper. He then buried a 3 from the right side to put the Spartans ahead 42-38 with 11 minutes remaining.

Fort is a fearless shooter, which is both a strength and weakness. On this night, it was a strength, his confidence needed. 

MSU was plus-12 with Fort in the game in those 15 minutes and finished an efficient 4-for-5 from the floor in two extended stints. These weren’t planned stints. But he’ll get more of them in the future because of it. And MSU will likely be quicker to go him when the others aren’t producing. He got his opportunity and delivered when the Spartans needed it.

“Trey the game come to him, instead of forcing the game,” Izzo said. “I was not only impressed, but I was excited for him. It’s been a rough go for him.”

Contact Graham Couch at [email protected]. Follow him on X @Graham_Couch and BlueSky @GrahamCouch.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU basketball pulls away from Oregon late | 3 quick takes