Coen Carr has 17 points, 8 rebounds to lead No. 20 Michigan State past Florida Atlantic 86-69
The address is East Lansing, Michigan (AP) Coen Carr led No. 20 Michigan State to an 86-69 victory over Florida Atlantic on Saturday, recording career-highs of 17 points and eight rebounds.
The Spartans (10-2) have won eight of nine games and five in a row.
The Owls (7-6) had won three in a row, scoring 87 points or more each time.
Baba Miller had 12 points while Tre Carroll of Florida Atlantic had 24.
The Owls capitalized on Michigan State’s poor start, leading for more than four minutes before Carr hit two crowd-pleasing dunks.
In a performance that eclipsed his prior career highs in points and rebounds set in a victory against then-No. 12 North Carolina at the Maui Invitational last month, Carr hit 7 of 9 from the field, including a 3-pointer, and made both of his free throws.
Frankie Fidler scored eight of the Spartans’ ten points in the first half, while Jeremy Fears and Jaden Akins each scored thirteen points.
Takeaways
Florida Atlantic: The hotly contested beginning of the game can be a plus for first-year coach John Jakus, who was brought in to replace Dusty May when he left for Michigan.
Michigan State: Carr’s dunks provide a team that has been experiencing emotional slumps much-needed vigor.
Key moment
With 6:45 remaining in the first half, Carr made a game-winning dunk that led to a 22-9 surge.
Key stat
Fears led the attack with almost perfect performance, dishing out eight assists and committing only one turnover.
Up next
On December 30, Michigan State will host Western Michigan, led by Dwayne Stephens. Before being hired in 2022, Stephens spent 19 seasons as a member of Izzo’s coaching staff while playing for the Spartans. On January 2, Florida Atlantic plays its first game in the American Athletic Conference against Memphis, ranked number 21.
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