Sun Mar 09 11:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Spartans Claim Outright Big Ten Title with Thrilling Comeback Win Over Iowa
**IOWA CITY, IA** – The No. 8 Michigan State Spartans clinched the outright Big Ten regular-season championship Thursday night, overcoming a double-digit deficit to defeat the Iowa Hawkeyes 91-84. This marks the Spartans’ first conference title since 2020 and their 11th overall, tying head coach Tom Izzo with Bob Knight and Ward “Piggy” Lambert for the most in Big Ten history.
Jase Richardson led the Spartans with 22 points, while Jaxon Kohler and Jaden Akins added 15 points each. Michigan State’s second-half surge, fueled by a decisive 19-2 run, proved pivotal. After trailing 58-48 with 12:13 remaining, the Spartans outscored Iowa 61-26 in the final half, shooting an impressive 61.3% from the field. Coen Carr’s back-to-back lob dunks highlighted the comeback.
Iowa, led by Josh Dix’s 18 points and 15 apiece from Payton Sandfort and Seydou Traore, controlled much of the first half, building a 37-30 lead. However, the Hawkeyes, hampered by the absence of injured leading scorer Owen Freeman, struggled to maintain their momentum against the resurgent Spartans. Iowa’s strong first half included a 22-2 run that saw Michigan State miss 10 of 11 shots.
The victory extends Michigan State’s winning streak to six games. They now face Michigan on Sunday. Iowa will play Nebraska on Sunday.
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