Jeremy Fears Jr. #1 of the Michigan State Spartans dribbles the ball past Silas Demary Jr. #5 of the UConn Huskies in the first half of the game at Breslin Center on October 20, 2026 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
The UConn men’s basketball team gained valuable experience facing a top-10 preseason opponent in a hostile road environment Tuesday, outlasting Michigan State 78-70 at the Breslin Center.
Nik Khamenia led Dan Hurley’s squad with 19 points and six rebounds, while freshman Colben Landrew staked his case for a starting role with 13 points and five boards. The Huskies shot an impressive 10-for-25 from 3-point range, but were second-best in rebounding and free-throw shooting for much of the game.
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Here’s a look back at Tuesday’s action.
UConn has struggled mightily at the foul line at points in Tuesday’s game, but the Huskies made their free throws when it counted. Nils Machowski, Nik Khamenia and Silas Demary Jr. combined to go 5-for-6 from the foul line over the final minute, icing another exhibition win for the Huskies.
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 20: Head coach Dan Hurley of the UConn Huskies reacts in the first half of the game against the Michigan State Spartans at Breslin Center on October 20, 2026 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
With Jeremy Fears earning consecutive free-throw trips, UConn’s lead had shrunk to just seven points with the shot clock winding down. Duke transfer Nik Khamenia continued his strong evening with a rare take in isolation, spinning off his defender at the left elbow before sinking a floater in off the rim.
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Nik up to a team-high 17 https://t.co/t2gqL0nakD
— UConn Men’s Basketball (@UConnMBB) October 21, 2026
Khamenia’s shot gives UConn a 73-64 lead with just over a minute remaining.
Silas Demary Jr. heads to the foul line for a 1-and-1 opportunity with UConn leading 67-57.
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The Huskies secured their first two offensive rebounds of the half on the same possession, with Colben Landrew sticking the second miss back home through contact on a 3-point play. Landrew converted the free throw, boosting his stat line to 11 points and two rebounds in the second half alone, as UConn leads 64-50 with 6:53 remaining.
and ONE https://t.co/dQwE6QxnPX
— UConn Men’s Basketball (@UConnMBB) October 21, 2026
Hines once again demonstrated his value to Huskies squad, rolling to the rim for a powerful dunk to give the Huskies a 58-48 lead with 8:17 remaining. However, Hines committed his fourth foul on the following defensive sequence and will take a seat.
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The Huskies can’t miss! UConn has made six consecutive field goals thanks to contributions from up and down Hurley’s roster. Wofford transfer Niks Machowski and freshman Junior County most recently made consecutive 3-point field goals, and the Huskies are shooting a blistering 10-15 in the second half.
UConn leads 56-48 with 9:12 remaining.
Michigan State has corralled all four offensive rebounds in the half, and Jeremy Fears Jr. just poked free the first steal since halftime to produce a transition layup. After trailing by nine moments ago, Michigan State has cut the deficit to 48-44 with 11:10 remaining.
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The Huskies have converted five of their last six field-goal attempts, extending UConn’s lead to 45-39 with 12:!7 left in the game. Colben Landrew has accounted for eight of UConn’s 15 points in the period, also grabbing a rebound.
With the small forward spot in Dan Hurley’s starting lineup seemingly up for grabs, neither Jayden Ross nor Colben Landrew offered much to bolster their case in the first 20 minutes. That’s changed since halftime, as Landrew has held off a Michigan State rally almost single-handedly in the second half.
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Landrew’s shooting stroke looked pure as he knocked down a much-needed 3-pointer, and on the following possession, the freshman finished through contact to earn three points the old-fashioned way. UConn leads 38-31 with 15:26 remaining.
Fears was the top passer in college basketball last season, and he’s got full command of the Michigan State offense out of the halftime break. He assisted each of Michigan State’s first two second-half baskets before calling his own number on a drive to the rim. This 6-0 run has cut UConn’s lead to 30-28 with 17:30 remaining in the game.
UConn is struggling a bit out of the locker room, allowing Michigan State to score on the opening possession bevore committing a turnover. Follow along for live updates all game long.
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The famous Izzone is in full voice for Tuesday’s exhibition, particularly when it comes to heckling UConn’s polarizing head coach, Dan Hurley. Hurley has been the recepient of frequent booing and a few vulgar chants in East Lansing Tuesday, so he responded by blowing kisses to the crowd before his halftime interview on the Big Ten Network.
“This is so great for both teams,” Hurley said while gesturing to the atmosphere. “It feels like a conference game.”
UConn’s defense has looked excellent against a top-10 opponents, holding Michigan State to just 36% shooting from the field and 1-8 from 3-point range. However, eight first half turnovers and sub-50% foul shooting has allowed the Spartans to remain in striking distance.
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Nik Khamenia leads the Huskies with nine points, mixing his known 3-point shooting with surprising success attacking the rim and drawing fouls. Silas Demary Jr. has eight points, while Na’jai Hines anchored the interior with six points, two rebounds and a block.
A black mark for both of UConn’s transfer portal at the center position, Oskar Giltay and Na’jai Hines, was a sky-high foul rate, an issue that’s rearing its head against Michigan State Tuesday. Hurley tested the Stanford transfer’s maturity by leaving him on the floor, but Giltay picked up his third foul with 54 seconds remaining until halftime — Hines, meanwhile, has picked up two fouls.
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The Huskies lead Michigan State 23-17 with 4:30 remaining in the halftime, but Dan Hurley’s squad could be in front by double digits with better free-throw shooting. UConn is currently a dismal 2-7 from the foul line Tuesday afternoon — Nik Khamenia is just 1-3, while Silas Demary Jr. missed both of his attempts.
Moments after swatting a Michigan State layup attempt into the second row, UConn center Najai Hines showed a bit more finesse by spinning right and sinking a 5-foot post hook. Hines is up to six points in Tuesday’s game with two rebounds and an assist, with UConn ahead 20-17 at the 5:38 mark of the first half.
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UConn’s senior leader has made a few unfamiliar mistakes in the early stages of Tuesday’s game. The 80% foul shooter missed both free-throw attempts earlier in the game, and most recently, he committed his second turnover of the game on an unforced carrying violation.
Still, UConn leads 17-13 with 9:00 until halftime
Khamenia is leading the Huskies with six points through 10 minutes of action Tuesday, proving his value as a floor spacer with two 3-pointers. The Duke transfer’s most recent triple came in highlight fashion, as he knocked down the stepback shot while being fouled — Khamenia failed to convert the free throw, giving UConn a 15-13 lead coming out of the under-12 timeout.
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step-back Khamenia https://t.co/JUaNcl3ebU
— UConn Men’s Basketball (@UConnMBB) October 20, 2026
With the shot-blocking presence of Na’jai Hines currently on the bench, Michigan State has found success challenging UConn’s defense at the rim, scoring each of its last six points in the painted area. MSU forward Jesse McCulloch, who averaged just seven minutes per game last season, has led this charge with four points and three rebounds.
Dan Hurley made a few subs at the under-16 media timeout, including Oskar Giltay, Jayden Ross and Nils Machowski. This group of reserves has struggled to replicate UConn’s early offensive flow, nearing a three-minute scoring drought. Michigan State leads 8-7 with 13:30 remaining until halftime.
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UConn’s three exhibitions might prove more of a trial run for Hurley’s vocal cords than his youthful Huskies team, as the UConn coach is hounding the officials to start Tuesday’s game, leading to an extended pause. Despite an early 8-3 lead at the first media timeout, Hurley is frustrated by a 3-0 foul discrepancy going against his Huskies in the early going.
Na’jai Hines certainly looks ready to go in his first start under Dan Hurley, flying around the court to (mostly) help the Huskies early on in East Lansing. Hines opened the scoring for UConn, making up for an earlier miss under the basket, and was patient off the short roll to find Nik Khamenia on the opposite wing for a 3-pointer.
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However, Hines did commit a moving screen violation, leaving the Seton Hall transfer wary of foul trouble. Khamenia’s 3-pointer gives UConn a 5-2 lead after three minutes of action.
UConn controls the opening tip, and we’re underway at the Breslin Center before a packed Izzone. Follow along for live updates all evening long.
The Spartans and Huskies will tip off at 7 p.m. from East Lansing. The game is available on B1G+ (Big Ten Plus) for a one-time, pay-per-view fee of $8.99, or over the radio on UConn Sports Network.
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Dan Hurley surprised many UConn fans by bringing Na’jai Hines off the bench in last week’s exhibition, but the highly touted Seton Hall transfer will start at center tonight in place of Oskar Giltay: G Silas Demary Jr., G Jayden Ross, F Colben Landrew, F Nik Khamenia, C Na’jai Hines.
Star UConn sophomore Braylon Mullins participated in warmups Tuesday evening, but is not expected to play against Michigan State. Mullins is managing an undisclosed injury and did not participate in last week’s exhibition against Syracuse.
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Hurley has overtaken Izzo with two national championship titles during a recent stretch of dominance in Storrs, but he’s still a long way off the Michigan State coach’s lofty win total of 764. Izzo and Hurley have been vocally aligned on several issues regarding G-League eligibility and transfer portal regulations, and the two veterans are also part of an ‘old-school coaches’ group chat along with UCLA’s Mick Cronin and former Butler and Ohio State coach Thad Matta.
As two of college basketball’s premier powers over the past 40 years, UConn and Michigan State have surprisingly only faced off eight times, although three meetings have come in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State won the most significant game between the two schools in 2009, outlasting UConn 82-73 in the Final Four.
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UConn exacted revenge three years later at one of the most unique venues in college basketball history, upsetting Izzo’s program 66-62 at Ramstein Air Base in Germany — UConn’s women’s program was scheduled to open their season at the same venue last season, but a government shutdown relocated the game to the U.S. Naval Academy. Izzo and Hurley met seven months ago in the NCAA Tournament East Regional Semifinal, where 20 points and four assists from Tarris Reed Jr. led UConn to a 67-63 win.