Ohio State Vs Mi State: Carson Cooper's Career-High 20 Powers Spartans to 66-60 Victory
Carson Cooper’s career-high 20 points and 11 rebounds carried No. 15 Michigan State to a 66-60 win over Ohio State in a game that tightened the Big Ten race and further imperiled the Buckeyes’ NCAA prospects. The result matters now because Michigan State moved into a third-place tie in the conference while Ohio State’s 0-9 mark against Quadrant 1 opponents deepens questions about its tournament résumé.
Ohio State Vs Mi State — Cooper seals the win with late free throws
Michigan State held a double-digit lead with 1: 35 remaining before Ohio State rallied with seven straight points to pull within three. Jordan Scott, who finished with 12 points, made one of two free throws with 9. 8 seconds left; Cooper followed with two free throws to seal the 66-60 victory for the Spartans.
Carson Cooper's career-high 20 points and 11 rebounds
Cooper scored a career-high 20 points and collected 11 rebounds in the win. His late free throws provided the decisive margin after Michigan State withstood Ohio State’s late surge. Jaxon Kohler contributed nine points and 10 rebounds despite dealing with foul trouble.
Bruce Thornton’s 32 points amid limited teammate support
Bruce Thornton led Ohio State with 32 points and was 12 of 22 from the floor, but the rest of the Buckeyes combined to make just 11 of 30 shots. Christoph Tilly added 10 points and missed only one shot, yet Thornton received little other scoring help. The shooting split undercut Ohio State’s bid to overcome Michigan State’s lead.
Jeremy Fears Jr., Jordan Scott and other stat lines that shaped the game
Jeremy Fears Jr. finished with 11 points and eight assists for Michigan State, helping the Spartans control tempo at key stretches. Jordan Scott’s 12 points and late free throw narrowed the gap in the final seconds before Cooper’s fouls closed out the game. Jaxon Kohler’s nine points and 10 rebounds bolstered Michigan State’s interior presence despite his foul issues.
Big Ten standings: Spartans tied with Nebraska and Purdue and next steps
The win improved Michigan State to 22-5 overall and 12-4 in Big Ten play, moving the Spartans into a third-place tie with No. 9 Nebraska and No. 7 Purdue. Ohio State fell to 17-10 overall and 9-7 in conference games. The Buckeyes also dropped to 0-9 against Quadrant 1 teams, a statistic that may hurt their chances of earning an NCAA Tournament bid next month.
Ohio State was missing Devin Royal, who was ill, and John Mobley, who was injured, leaving the Buckeyes without what the team described as 29 points per game they average. That absence contributed to the offense’s struggles and helped produce the shooting imbalance that let Michigan State hold on.
What makes this notable is how a single-game combination of an individual career night and roster absences translated directly into postseason implications: Cooper’s efficiency and late free throws delivered a marquee conference win for Michigan State, while Thornton’s scoring outburst could not offset Ohio State’s broader offensive shortfall and damaging 0-9 Quadrant 1 ledger.
Michigan State will next play at No. 7 Purdue on Thursday. Ohio State’s schedule continues with a road trip to Iowa on Wednesday.
