The Spartans had a monstrous victory last night, defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini by three points in overtime.

While Michigan State managed to score 87 points in extra basketball, offense wasn’t the story. Jeremy Fears carried the team at times, making crucial plays, while the rest of the roster executed when it counted. But the real highlight was the Spartans’ defense—not as a whole team on every possession, but through one individual in particular.

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Jordan Scott, making just his second career start against Illinois, was tasked with one of the toughest jobs in college basketball: guarding freshman Keaton Wagler.

Wagler had just scored 46 points against Purdue a few games ago and came into the game averaging 27.25 points over the past four contests. Highly touted as a potential top-6 NBA Draft pick, Wagler combines calmness with aggressive shot-taking from anywhere on the court, including deep logo-range threes, making defenders break a sweat before the game even begins.

Scott started strong defensively, but the matchup quickly escalated into a battle. During the game, Scott suffered a cut above his left eye and was immediately pulled from the court and taken to the locker room. When he returned, bandaged and determined, it was clear he wasn’t going to let anything stop him from delivering a season-defining defensive performance.

And deliver he did. Jordan Scott completely shut down Keaton Wagler:

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For context, Wagler had just scored 46 points at Purdue, yet he managed only 16 points last night. One of his two field goals came in dramatic fashion, and in overtime, he found himself on the wrong end of a steal with seconds remaining. Wagler opted to dish the ball out for a potential game-tying three, a decision he may regret if asked today. At halftime, Wagler had just two points, both coming from free throws, and was on the verge of being completely shut down by Scott and the Spartans’ defense.

Scott didn’t just shine defensively; he contributed on offense as well. He scored 10 points, tied for third most on the team, added four rebounds, shot 1/4 from deep, and was 3/4 from the free-throw line. His overall performance was a statement: this freshman is ready to compete with any top shooter in the league.

With Divine Ugochukwu out for the season due to a foot injury, Scott is expected to become the primary starter at the two-guard position, with Kur Ten and Trey Fort providing relief off the bench.

The Spartans knew they had a talented basketball player when Scott arrived in East Lansing, but last night confirmed just how dominant he can be on the defensive end. Scott’s ability to shut down one of the nation’s premier scorers, even while injured, shows he’s not just a contributor—he’s a game-changer.

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Michigan State may have scored nearly 90 points in overtime, but it was Jordan Scott’s lockdown defense on Wagler that turned a high-scoring affair into a signature victory. This game will be remembered not for the points, but for the unrelenting defense that defines the Spartans’ identity this season.