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EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 15: Ace Baldwin Jr. #1 of the Penn State Nittany Lions passes away from Xavier Booker #34 and Carson Cooper #15 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at the Breslin Center on January 15, 2025 in East Lansing, Michigan.  (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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Ace Baldwin Jr.'s return not enough for Penn State men's basketball in loss to Michigan State

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images

Ace Baldwin Jr.'s return not enough for Penn State men's basketball in loss to Michigan State

Puff Johnson, who was coming off a 15-point performance, injures his right hand in the first half and didn’t return

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Frankie Fidler had a season-high 18 points and Jaden Akins scored 16, leading No. 12 Michigan State men’s basketball to a 90-85 victory against Penn State on Wednesday night.

The Spartans (15-2, 6-0 Big Ten) have won 10 straight for the first time since the 2018-19 season, the most recent of their eight teams to reach the Final Four under Hall of Fame coach Tom Izzo.

The Nittany Lions (12-6, 2-5) have lost four in a row, including three straight to AP Top 25 teams.

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Penn State had one key player return from injury but lost another one.

Penn State's Nick Kern Jr. (3) drives the baseline on Oregon's TJ Bamba (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Gary M. Baranec)
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Penn State men's basketball loses third in a row, falls to Oregon

Ace Baldwin Jr. had 20 points and played in all 40 minutes without sitting down during timeouts after missing a game with a back injury. Puff Johnson, who was coming off a 15-point performance, injured his right hand in the first half and didn’t return.

Takeaways

Penn State: Playing three straight top-15 teams has tested the Nittany Lions, who were coming off an encouraging one-point defeat against then-No. 15 Oregon and a humbling 91-52 loss at then-No. 13 Illinois.

Michigan State: Izzo's 30th team wasn't ranked in the first five AP Top 25 polls this season, but has raised expectations. The Spartans have doubled their longest winning streak from last season when they had 19 victories and narrowly extended their NCAA tournament streak to 24.

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Key moment

After Penn State pulled within four, Akins converted a three-point play with 29.7 seconds left.

Key stat

The Spartans had 10 players with points in the first half to help them lead 46-36. Eight players finished with at least seven points.

Up next

Michigan State plays No. 19 Illinois on Sunday afternoon in one of the top games in college basketball this week. Penn State hosts Rutgers on Monday night.

First Published: January 16, 2025, 3:09 a.m.
Updated: January 16, 2025, 3:11 a.m.

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EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 15: Ace Baldwin Jr. #1 of the Penn State Nittany Lions passes away from Xavier Booker #34 and Carson Cooper #15 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at the Breslin Center on January 15, 2025 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)  (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
Penn State guard D'Marco Dunn, right, drives against Michigan State forward Coen Carr during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in East Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)  (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 15: Freddie Dilione V #4 of the Penn State Nittany Lions has his shot blocked by Jaden Akins #3 of the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at the Breslin Center on January 15, 2025 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)  (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
Gregory Shamus / Getty Images
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