Michigan State Dominates Big Ten Opener, Rolls Past Iowa 71–52

A battle of unbeatens got underway tonight in East Lansing, as a pair of 7–0 Big Ten teams—Michigan State and Iowa—faced off in a gritty, physical conference opener.

Iowa entered with a revamped identity under new head coach Ben McCollum. With Drake transfer Bennett Stirtz following him to Iowa City, the Hawkeyes have leaned on Stirtz’s offensive creativity and an improved defensive scheme to open the season with seven straight wins.

Michigan State, meanwhile, continues its meteoric rise. After toppling three ranked opponents, the Spartans have climbed 15 spots from the preseason polls to No. 7 overall. Their identity is built on the bruising rebounding tandem of Jaxon Kohler and Carson Cooper—two bigs who out-muscle nearly every frontcourt they face.

Earlier this week, head coach Tom Izzo dubbed this team “Rebounding U,” and the first half delivered exactly that brand of basketball. Though Iowa scored the first five points, it was Michigan State that looked every bit of a top-ten team. In a whistle-heavy first half defined by turnovers, physicality, and free throws, the Spartans leaned into their strengths.

A 17–1 Michigan State run cracked the game open. Every Iowa miss seemed to find its way into green-and-white hands, and the Breslin Center crowd grew louder with each empty Hawkeye possession. The environment was chaotic—exactly the type of home-court pressure Izzo teams have thrived on for decades.

Despite missing freshman spark plug Cam Ward—who has been a tone-setter physically all season—the Spartans didn’t miss a beat. With Ward nursing a wrist injury, there were questions about MSU’s physical edge. Those questions were answered loudly and emphatically.

By halftime, it was clear Iowa was overmatched. McCollum is a sharp coach and will elevate the Hawkeyes, but in his first Big Ten contest, the veteran Izzo delivered a masterclass.

The second half followed the same script: MSU dominated the boards, controlled tempo, and smothered Iowa defensively. The Spartans pushed their lead to 20, holding Iowa under 40 points until the 8:39 mark. Bennett Stirtz—who needed a massive night for Iowa to stay competitive—was blanketed from start to finish.

Even in his 31st season, Izzo’s formula remains timeless: defense and rebounding win in any era.

Michigan State cruised to a 71–52 victory, extending its winning streak to eight.

But the celebration can’t last long.

Up next is MSU’s biggest test of the young season: No. 4 Duke arrives at the Breslin Center on Saturday for a marquee afternoon showdown. The Spartans, ranked No. 5 nationally in defensive efficiency (KenPom), will need another elite defensive effort to contain Duke’s explosive offense. Matching possessions—not matching Duke’s style—will be the key.

Tonight was a strong start to Big Ten play and a confidence-boosting way to kick off the week. Saturday will reveal just how high Michigan State’s early-season ceiling really is.