Tom Izzo and No. 8 Michigan State basketball has two demons to try and conquer Saturday — a talented Rutgers squad and the Madison Square Garden aura.

Only one team in the Big Ten has yet to lose in conference play and that wouldn’t change on Saturday. The Michigan State men’s basketball team took down Rutgers at Madison Square Garden in New York, 81-74,

The Spartans beat Rutgers for 12 straight wins Saturday at Madison Square Garden with big contributions from Jase Richardson and Coen Carr.

NEW YORK. (WILX) - No. 8 Michigan State men’s basketball just continues to roll with the Spartans’ 12 straight victory with an 81-74 win over Rutgers on Saturday afternoon. MSU now improves to 8-0 in conference play and remain at the top of the Big Ten standings.

Make it twelve straight wins for Michigan State basketball as MSU beat Rutgers. The Spartans went into the hallowed grounds of Madison Square Garden on Saturday and went toe-to-toe with two of the top freshmen in the league and came out with another impressive victory.

Rutgers top freshmen Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey lead the Scarlet Knights against No. 8 Michigan State in Big Ten basketball action, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at Madison Square Garden. Harper suffered an apparent ankle injury and did not play much in the second half.

You would think that Tom Izzo would be happy with his team following their twelfth straight win, this time coming against a star-studded Rutgers squad in Madison Square Garden. Then again, if you thought he’d be happy, you probably don’t know Tom Izzo, who can seemingly always find a teachable moment no matter what his team’s record is.

Michigan State sophomore forward Coen Carr has taken a tremendous "leap" this season, and that was as evident as ever in the No. 8 Spartans' win over Rutgers on Saturday.