Michigan State-Duke winners/losers: Jeremy Fears can’t fade like that

EAST LANSING — Free Press sports writer Andrew Birkle picks the winners and losers from Michigan State basketball’s 66-60 loss to Duke at Breslin Center on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Winners

Jaxon Kohler

Coming into the season, one of the major questions surrounding these Spartans was the 3-point shooting. They’re still not an elite shooting team, ranking 180th in the country in 3-point percentage – about middle of the pack – entering the game, but they’ve done enough. Jaxon Kohler gets a lot of credit for that.

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Kohler showed an ability to occasionally knock them down last year, with 19 3s in 2024, but has taken a big leap as a shooter. He entered Saturday’s game with 12 3s on the year, then hit four of five 3-point attempts in the first half to help the Spartans take a 34-31 lead at the break. He’s proving to be a threat outside.

Jordan Scott

The freshman simply makes plays every time he comes into the game. His extendo-arms get in passing lanes, he dives on the floor and chases after rebounds. The Duke game was no different, and now he’s making shots.

THE GAME: Michigan State flummoxed by Duke zone, Spartans wilt 66-60 in 1st loss

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After an electric spurt in the first half where Scott seemed to be in five different places on the floor at once, he made an even bigger impact in the second half when he buried two key 3-pointers, one forcing a timeout from Duke coach Jon Scheyer.

If he can continue hitting shots, even just the timely ones, he’ll have a huge role on this team.

Cameron Boozer

Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1) and Duke forward Cameron Boozer (12) battle for the ball during the first half at Breslin Center in East Lansing on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.

The first half was rough for the five-star freshman and future top-five pick.

The Spartans threw veteran big man Carson Cooper on him and he made Boozer work for everything, as he hit the break with just two points. The second half was a different story.

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It was an easy adjustment for…

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Publish date : 2025-12-06 19:53:00

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