Rebounding U: Spartans Crush Iowa on the Boards in Opening Half

Michigan State vs Iowa: First Half Recap

The first Big Ten matchup for Michigan State opened with announcers predicting a “methodical” Iowa offense—one that would supposedly test Michigan State’s defense. Instead, it was the Hawkeyes’ defense that found itself overwhelmed throughout a long and frustrating first half.

Game Start

Michigan State opened with the ball and immediately tried to set the tone. Jeremy Fears threw a lob to Carson Cooper on the very first play, but the ball slipped right through Cooper’s hands. Iowa answered with a three, and Cooper continued to struggle finishing around the rim. The Hawkeyes jumped out to a quick 5–0 lead, but it was Rebounding U—as Tom Izzo dubbed his team pregame—that kept things from slipping away early. Cooper and Jaxon Kohler controlled the glass, giving the Spartans second-chance opportunities until the offense caught up.

After a couple minutes of bricks, Kur Teng finally broke the drought with a three to make it 5–3. Iowa answered, Michigan State hit two free throws, and the Spartans pulled within two.

7–5 Iowa | 15:40 remaining

Jeremy Fears tied the game with two free throws out of the break. Meanwhile, Kohler continued to assert himself on the boards, grabbing seemingly everything in sight. The referees began calling a string of questionable fouls against MSU, stoking the Breslin Center crowd.

Coen Carr looked like he was going up for a Hakeem-style hook shot but audibled midair, dropping a pass to Cooper for an easy bucket and MSU’s first lead.

9–7 MSU | 11:58 remaining (6–0 MSU run)

Out of the timeout, Iowa committed a cheap foul to give the ball back to the Spartans, but MSU couldn’t capitalize. The Hawkeyes tied it at 9 after a putback from Stirtz.

The Breslin crowd came alive on the next Iowa possession, counting down the shot clock three seconds early—a classic Izzone trick—which forced a rushed shot. Fears cashed in two more free throws on the other end to regain the lead.

Iowa’s foul trouble piled up fast. The Hawkeyes entered the bonus with 9:25 left in the half. Freshman Jordan Scott split a pair at the line to push the lead to 12–9. After a make-up whistle handed Iowa two free throws (they hit one), the game devolved into a whistle parade. The Spartans knocked down their freebies and forced a turnover leading to a Scott tip-in.

Then—another Iowa foul.

16–10 MSU | 7:58 remaining (MSU’s largest lead so far)

Michigan State began to assert full control. Iowa went cold—1 for their last 11—and Kohler dropped in another jumper to push the lead to 18–10.

The Hawkeyes continued missing free throws as the Breslin atmosphere intensified. Kohler hauled in his seventh rebound, went coast-to-coast, and finished again. Suddenly, MSU had doubled the lead.

20–10 MSU | 6:47 remaining

The run continued. Freshman Jordan Scott drilled a three to make it 23–10—Michigan State’s biggest lead at that point. Iowa, now with more turnovers than rebounds, coughed up another possession. Fears buried a long two with a toe on the line.

The Spartans were on a 17–1 run.

Iowa finally got a point at the line, but MSU kept applying pressure. The Spartans stretched the lead to 27–11 with five minutes remaining—vintage Izzo basketball: defense, rebounding, toughness, possession control.

Iowa hit a desperately needed three to cut it to 13, but their defense immediately broke down. Carr sliced through the lane for an acrobatic finish to restore the 15-point edge.

29–14 MSU | 3:55 remaining

Iowa scored out of the break, but Michigan State answered instantly. Fears found Carr for a late-clock dunk. Iowa hit another three to bring it within 10, but the Spartans punched back—another Carr dunk, another Kohler rebound, another Kohler bucket. By halftime, Kohler had 8 points and 8 rebounds.

Michigan State carried a 35–21 lead into the locker room.

First Half Overview

This was Michigan State’s half from start to finish. The Spartans dominated the glass, doubling Iowa’s rebounds 19–10, and imposed their defensive identity at every turn. Turnovers were sloppy on both sides—7 for Iowa, 6 for MSU—but the Spartans consistently capitalized on second-chance opportunities and scrambled the Hawkeyes’ rhythm.

With the level of defensive pressure, rebounding dominance, and intensity Michigan State displayed, Iowa has little hope of clawing back unless something dramatically changes. If MSU keeps controlling the boards and defending at this level, this game won’t get close.