Michigan State basketball tipped off the 2025-26 season with an exhibition victory over Bowling Green on Thursday. The Spartans needed a late game effort to pull away for the victory over the Falcons, winning by the final score of 75-66.

Michigan State will return to the court next week on Tuesday in their second and final exhibition game against UConn. That exhibition matchup between the Spartans and Huskies will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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Final Score: MSU – 75, BGSU – 66

Michigan State ends the game outscoring Bowling Green 18-9 in the final 10 minutes to pickup the exhibition victory.

The Spartans were led in scoring by Carr with 17 points and Kohler with 15 points. Fears ended the night with a near double-double at 12 points and nine assists.

MSU – 74, BGSU – 63 with 3:22 left in 2nd Half

Michigan State went on a 9-0 run to build back a comfortable lead. The Falcons will be at the free throw line with a chance to complete a three-point play when we return from the final media timeout of the game.

MSU – 64, BGSU – 59 with 7:31 left in 2nd Half

The Falcons were able to tie it up quickly after the last media timeout, but the Spartans were able to respond themselves and are currently on a 7-to-2 run. Fears was fouled in an and-one situation and will head to the free throw line to potentially complete the three-point play after the media break.

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Fears is up to 11 points and eight assists on the night.

MSU – 57, BGSU – 52 with 11:41 left in 2nd Half

Bowling Green isn’t going away. The Falcons have cut into the Spartans lead and will have the ball out of bounds after the media timeout.

Kohler is leading the Spartans with 15 points and six rebounds tonight.

MSU – 54, BGSU – 46 with 14:51 left in 2nd Half

The back-and-forth basketball continued to open the second half, with the Falcons and Spartans trading baskets in the first five minutes of the second half.

MSU – 48, BGSU – 39 at Halftime

Michigan State ends the half with a miss shot from Fears, but ultimately finished the first frame strong. The Spartans were able to build a double-digit lead late in the half and appear to be in position to pull away in the second half if they clean up some things.

The Spartans are led in scoring by Kohler with 12 points. Carr is right behind with 11 points. Fears has seven points and six assists.

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Bowling Green is led in scoring by Sam Towns with 15 points. Preseason All-MAC first team selection Javontae Campbell was held to just five points in the first half.

The Spartans were defensively stout in the first half with eight blocks and five steals. Had it not been for the Falcons impressive outside shooting, this game may be out of reach at the break.

MSU – 38, BGSU – 30 with 3:48 left in 1st Half

Spartans’ offense is starting to heat up, with Michigan State bumping its lead up to eight points at the final first half media timeout — which is the largest lead of the game for either team. Sharp shooting from behind the arc is keeping Bowling Green in the game, though, with the Falcons shooting 63% from three point range (5-for-8).

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MSU – 28, BGSU – 27 with 6:21 left in 1st Half

The last five minutes has featured some back-and-forth ball. First, Bowling Green went on a 7-0 run to build a five-point lead, but then the Spartans would respond with an 8-0 run to regain the lead. The Spartans’ run included back-to-back three-pointers from Fears and Kohler.

Carr leads all scorers with nine points and Kohler is right behind with eight points.

Trey Fort scores first points as Spartan, Carr massive dunk follows

Samford transfer Trey Fort recorded his first points as a Spartan on a three-point shot that gave Michigan State a 13-12 lead. That play was followed up by another massive dunk by Carr. Michigan State leads 15-12 with 11:56 left in the first half.

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MSU – 7, BGSU – 8 with 15:29 left in 1st Half

Michigan State trails by one point at the first TV timeout. Carr is leading the Spartans with four points. Fears knocked down a shot from outside for the Spartans’ other three points so far.

Carr scores first points of season for Spartans

Carr got the Spartans on the scoreboard first thanks to an alley-oop dunk. Michigan State trails 3-2 following the play early in the game.

Spartans announce starters

About 15 minutes before tipoff, Michigan State announced their starting five for tonight’s exhibition opener against Bowling Green — here they are:

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Tipoff is coming up from the Breslin Center soon.

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This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Michigan State men’s basketball beats Bowling Green: Highlights