Just prior to tip, the TV crew announced that Jeremy Fears would be out due to a stomach virus that has been making its way through the MSU locker room. Xavier Booker was dealing with the same issue and didn’t play today either. Jase Richardson started in place of Fears and had a massive impact, although Michigan State would bring their turnover problems from the West Coast back to East Lansing in the first half.
The Spartans also had a lot of trouble penetrating Oregon’s zone defense and that, combined with the turnovers and the Ducks’ red hot three point shooting would have MSU reeling at the halftime break.