Akins scores 18 points, Cooper has career-high 13 as No. 18 Michigan St beats Western Michigan 80-62
Michigan State guard Jaden Akins pushes the ball upcourt against Western Michigan during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in East Lansing, Mich. Credit: AP/Al Goldis
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Jaden Akins scored 11 of his 18 points in the first half, helping No. 18 Michigan State build a double-digit lead to set up an 80-62 win over Western Michigan on Monday.
The Spartans (11-2) have won six in a row and nine of 10.
The Broncos (3-9) were competitive in stretches of the game before falling behind by double digits midway through the second half.
Michigan State's Carson Cooper scored a career-high 13 points.
Western Michigan's Chansey Willis scored 12 points and Max Burton had 10.
The game marked the return of Dwayne Stephens, who was hired off Tom Izzo's staff in 2022. Stephens was an assistant for the Hall of Fame coach for 19 seasons and played for the Spartans under the late Jud Heathcote.
Takeaways
Western Michigan: In Stephens' third season, the Broncos can build confidence after starting strong in each half. They led Michigan State 11-5 and scored the first 10 points after halftime.
Western Michigan coach Dwayne Stephens reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan State, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in East Lansing, Mich. Credit: AP/Al Goldis
Michigan State: Cooper and Szymon Zapala (eight points and nine rebounds) made up for Xavier Booker's lack of production. Booker scored just two points for the second straight game after scoring in double figures in four consecutive games, capping the run with a career-high 18 against Oakland.
Key moment
Cooper's alley-oop dunk midway through the second half put the Spartans ahead by eight and they pulled away for the 18-point win.
Key stat
The Spartans had almost as many turnovers (11) as field goals in the first half and finished with 17 turnovers, stunting their ability to turn the game into a rout until the final minutes.
Up next
Michigan State plays at Ohio State on Friday night. Western Michigan hosts Toledo in its Mid-American Conference opener on Saturday.
Michigan State center Carson Cooper (15) dunks over Western Michigan guard EJ Ryans during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in East Lansing, Mich. Credit: AP/Al Goldis
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Follow Larry Lage at https://apnews.com/author/larry-lage
