Jeremy Fears Jr., Michigan State basketball sharing at an elite level

NEW YORK — Though it took a back seat to an impressive 3-point shooting performance, Michigan State basketball’s generosity with the ball led to many of those buckets that knocked out No. 13 Kentucky.

A career-high 13 assists for Jeremy Fears Jr. Another robust night of team distribution around him. An impressive statement-making 83-66 win over the Wildcats for the 18th-ranked Spartans on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Madison Square Garden.

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And a heap of praise and pride – amid his usual downplaying – from coach Tom Izzo about the way MSU went about moving the ball.

“Where it’s getting a little bit like last year, it’s very unselfish,” Izzo said after the Spartans had 25 assists on their 32 made shots. “I still think we’ve got some more upside.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 18: Jeremy Fears Jr. #1 of the Michigan State Spartans dribbles during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the 2025 State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 18, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

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In opening the season with four straight wins, the Spartans have assisted on 86 of their 110 made baskets, a bountiful 78.2% sharing rate. They’ll take that up against a former MSU point guard and Izzo assistant in Mark Montgomery and Detroit Mercy on Friday (6:30 p.m., Big Ten Network) in East Lansing.

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“It showed that we’re a really complete team,” said freshman Cam Ward, who had eight points and benefitted from two of Fears’ assists (including a lob dunk in the second half). “And we’re a deep team, too.”

Fears, a 6-foot-2 redshirt sophomore, leads the nation with 41 assists and 10.3-per-game rate, while MSU ranks ninth as a team so far, at 21.5 assists per game. He finished with eight points, six rebounds and three steals.

“Jeremy after that first five minutes – let me tell you, he wasn’t very good the first five…

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Publish date : 2025-11-21 13:43:00

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