EAST LANSING– No. 9 Michigan State men’s basketball travels to Penn State for its first true road game of the 2025-26 season.
Since 2000, Spartans head coach Tom Izzo has a 34-7 record against Penn State, which includes four straight victories.
MSU senior forward Jaxon Kohler embraces the challenge of playing on the road.
“I love road games because I love to go into their place, do what we do and get a win,” Kohler said. “As much as I love playing at the Breslin, in front of the greatest student section in the world, I love to go into other arenas and make them quiet.”
The Spartans had the full week off, which they used to reflect on the tough loss at home to No. 4 Duke on Saturday.
“I have gotten a lot of time to watch it and I think it’s just improving upon the little things,” Izzo said.
The Nittany Lions are expected to end the season closer to the bottom of the standings than the top. In its Big Ten opener, Penn State was not up to the task, as it suffered a blowout loss at the hands of the Indiana Hoosiers.
The Nittany Lions are a young squad that Izzo expects to bounce back after the 41-point loss.
“I think it’s an advantage, if an older team gets beat that bad, I think you start getting down; but when you’re a younger team, you forget faster and respond quicker,” Izzo said.
Freshman guard Kayden Mingo is Penn State’s leading scorer, averaging 15 points per game. The Spartans will be well suited to defend the freshman, as they focus on interior defense and take their chances with the 19 percent three-point shooter.
Allowing 61 points per game, Michigan State is the No. 6 ranked defense in the NCAA.
Spartans freshman forward Cam Ward has dealt with a wrist injury that sidelined him against Iowa. Ward’s condition has improved and should have more of an impact than his performance against Duke.
“It’s a lot better right now, they got a different brace on it, he’s got a couple games on his belt and today was his best day of practice,” Izzo said.
Tip-off at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pa. is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13.
