Michigan State Tops Northwestern in Strong Home Performance
Thursday, January 8, 2026, 6:30 PM ET · Breslin Center
Michigan State Spartans 76, Northwestern Wildcats 66, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Northwestern Wildcats vs Michigan State Spartans?
Michigan State Spartans beat Northwestern Wildcats 76-66 at Breslin Center on January 8, 2026.
Who was favored in Northwestern Wildcats vs Michigan State Spartans?
Michigan State Spartans were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -1050 (about 91% implied). The favorite won.
The Michigan State Spartans secured a convincing victory over the Northwestern Wildcats, finishing the game with a score of 76 to 66 at the Breslin Center. This matchup showcased Michigan State's dominance at home, where they hold a strong record of 14-2 overall and 5-1 at home, while Northwestern's away struggles continued, now standing at 0-3 in away games and 8-7 overall.
In the lead-up to this game, Michigan State had been in solid form, winning eight of their last ten games, with an average of 79.1 points scored per game and allowing just 64.9 points. Their recent performances included a significant win against the USC Trojans, where they triumphed 80-51, and a narrow loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 56-58. In contrast, Northwestern had a more challenging stretch, with a record of 4-6 in their last ten games, averaging 78.8 points scored while allowing 74.5 points. Their most recent game resulted in a loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers, 78-84.
The Spartans' home advantage was evident throughout the game. They have been particularly effective at the Breslin Center, where their scoring average rises to 84.2 points in their last five games. Northwestern, on the other hand, has struggled away from home, with their last five games averaging only 79.0 points scored and 65.6 points allowed.
Historically, the two teams have met once prior in the 2025 season, where Michigan State also emerged victorious with a score of 78-68. This win further solidified their current dominance over Northwestern.
In terms of player performance, the game featured notable scoring plays in the second half, including free throws from Jeremy Fears Jr., Nick Martinelli, and Carson Cooper, which helped maintain Michigan State's lead as they closed out the game. The final moments saw Michigan State secure their victory with free throws that brought the score to its final tally of 76-66.
Betting lines from DraftKings indicated Michigan State as heavy favorites, with a spread of -13.5 and a moneyline of -1050, while Northwestern was set at +675. The total points for the game were set at 143.5, with odds of -112.0 for the over and -108.0 for the under.
The conditions in the Breslin Center were favorable for a high-energy game, and the atmosphere reflected the home crowd's support for the Spartans. As the season progresses, Michigan State's ability to maintain their home winning streak will be crucial, while Northwestern will need to address their away performance if they hope to improve their overall standing.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MSU -13.5 | 143.5 o -112 / u -108 | Northwestern Wildcats +675 · Michigan State Spartans -1050 |
Leaders
- PointsCarson Cooper18Michigan State Spartans
- AssistsJeremy Fears Jr.5Michigan State Spartans
- ReboundsCarson Cooper9Michigan State Spartans
- PointsNick Martinelli28Northwestern Wildcats
- AssistsJayden Reid8Northwestern Wildcats
- ReboundsTre Singleton6Northwestern Wildcats
Recent form
Michigan State Spartans
Last 10: 8-2Streak W179.1 scored · 64.9 allowed per game5-1 at home
- W80-51vs USC TrojansJan 6
- L56-58at Nebraska CornhuskersJan 3
- W114-97vs Cornell Big RedDec 30
- W79-70vs Oakland Golden GrizzliesDec 20
- W92-69vs Toledo RocketsDec 16
- W76-72at Penn State Nittany LionsDec 13
- L60-66vs Duke Blue DevilsDec 6
- W71-52vs Iowa HawkeyesDec 3
- W74-58at North Carolina Tar HeelsNov 27
- W89-56at East Carolina PiratesNov 25
Northwestern Wildcats
Last 10: 4-6Streak L178.8 scored · 74.5 allowed per game0-3 away
- L78-84vs Minnesota Golden GophersJan 3
- W80-60vs Howard BisonDec 30
- L58-61at Butler BulldogsDec 20
- W86-70vs Valparaiso BeaconsDec 17
- W93-53vs Jackson State TigersDec 13
- L82-86vs Ohio State BuckeyesDec 6
- L73-85at Wisconsin BadgersDec 4
- L81-86vs Oklahoma State CowboysNov 28
- W79-77vs South Carolina GamecocksNov 23
- L78-83at Virginia CavaliersNov 21
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 37-3 | - | 19-1 |
| Nebraska | 28-7 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Michigan State | 27-8 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Illinois | 28-9 | 4 | 15-5 |
| Wisconsin | 24-11 | 5 | 14-6 |
| Purdue | 30-9 | 6 | 13-7 |
| UCLA | 24-12 | 6 | 13-7 |
| Ohio State | 21-13 | 7 | 12-8 |
| Iowa | 24-13 | 9 | 10-10 |
| Indiana | 18-14 | 10 | 9-11 |
| Minnesota | 15-18 | 11 | 8-12 |
| USC | 18-14 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Washington | 16-17 | 12 | 7-13 |
| Rutgers | 14-20 | 13 | 6-14 |
| Northwestern | 15-19 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Oregon | 12-20 | 14 | 5-15 |
| Maryland | 12-21 | 15 | 4-16 |
| Penn State | 12-20 | 16 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Northwestern Wildcats | Michigan State Spartans |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 22-58 | 24-49 |
| Field goal % | 38 | 49 |
| Three-pointers | 6-26 | 5-18 |
| Three-point % | 23 | 28 |
| Free throws | 16-20 | 23-33 |
| Free throw % | 80 | 70 |
| Rebounds | 25 | 42 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 11 |
| Defensive rebounds | 17 | 31 |
| Assists | 14 | 17 |
| Steals | 9 | 3 |
| Blocks | 2 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 6 | 15 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 3 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 17 | 13 |
| Fast-break points | 19 | 15 |
| Points in the paint | 30 | 32 |
| Fouls | 24 | 15 |
| Largest lead | 8 | 10 |
| Lead changes | 10 | 10 |
| Time in front | 46 | 45 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half45-40Cam Ward makes layup (Kur Teng assists)
- 2nd Half45-42Cam Ward makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half45-43Cam Ward makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half45-46Jaxon Kohler makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half45-48Jeremy Fears Jr. makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half46-48Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half47-48Nick Martinelli makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half47-50Carson Cooper makes layup
- 2nd Half47-52Coen Carr makes 2-foot dunk (Jeremy Fears Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half49-52Nick Martinelli makes 6-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half50-52Jordan Clayton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-53Jeremy Fears Jr. makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half50-54Jeremy Fears Jr. makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half50-55Jeremy Fears Jr. makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half50-58Jaxon Kohler makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jordan Scott assists)
- 2nd Half52-58Justin Mullins makes layup (Jayden Reid assists)
- 2nd Half52-59Jeremy Fears Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-60Jeremy Fears Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-62Jeremy Fears Jr. makes 13-foot jumper
- 2nd Half53-62Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-62Nick Martinelli makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-62Max Green makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jayden Reid assists)
- 2nd Half57-63Jaxon Kohler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half57-64Jaxon Kohler makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-64Nick Martinelli makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jayden Reid assists)
- 2nd Half61-64Jayden Reid makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-64Jayden Reid makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-66Jeremy Fears Jr. makes layup
- 2nd Half62-68Coen Carr makes 5-foot dunk (Kur Teng assists)
- 2nd Half62-69Carson Cooper makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-70Carson Cooper makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-71Jeremy Fears Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-72Jeremy Fears Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-72Nick Martinelli makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-72Nick Martinelli makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-73Coen Carr makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-73Nick Martinelli makes layup (Jayden Reid assists)
- 2nd Half66-74Jordan Scott makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-75Carson Cooper makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-76Carson Cooper makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Michigan State Spartans, below favours Northwestern Wildcats.
Venue
- Breslin CenterEast Lansing, MI
- Attendance14797
- OfficialsKipp Kissinger, Brian Dorsey, Doug Sirmons
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- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond