Michigan State’s men’s basketball team will face East Carolina on Tuesday, November 25, in the first round of the Fort Myers Tip-Off. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. and will air on FS2. This marks the Spartans’ first appearance in the tournament.
Following the opener, Michigan State will play North Carolina on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, at 4:30 p.m. on FOX. North Carolina begins the tournament against St. Bonaventure.
The Spartans enter the tournament with an undefeated 5-0 record, their best start since the 2020-21 season. The team is coming off an 84-56 home victory over Detroit Mercy on Friday. This strong start builds on the success of the 2023-24 season, where Michigan State finished 30-7, won the Big Ten regular-season title, and advanced to the Elite Eight under Head Coach Tom Izzo.
Through five games, Michigan State has showcased a balanced and potent offense with four players averaging double-digit scoring. The team excels in ball movement and rebounding, ranking 11th nationally in assists per game (20.8) and 8th in rebound margin (+15.6).
Jaxon Kohler leads the team with 15.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. orchestrates the offense, leading the nation with an impressive 10.4 assists per contest while adding 11.8 points. Other key contributors include athletic forward Coen Carr (10.8 ppg) and center Carson Cooper (10.0 ppg).
East Carolina enters the matchup with a 2-3 record, most recently falling to Charleston Southern. The Pirates are led by senior guard Jordan Riley, who averages a team-high 18.5 points. In the post, 6-foot-10 center Giovanni Emejuru provides a strong presence, averaging 17.0 points and a team-leading 9.8 rebounds.
Tuesday’s game will be the first-ever meeting between Michigan State and East Carolina. The Spartans have historically performed well in early-season tournaments and hold a 23-17 all-time record against current members of the American Athletic Conference.
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