Jaden Daly
@dalydoseofhoops.bsky.social
Independent college basketball writer covering NY metro hoops since 2009. USBWA member w/focus on MAAC, Big East, Rutgers, local mid-majors, UNC, zebra alerts.
Michigan State’s going to do this, taking Rutgers to overtime and leaving with an 88-79 win over the Scarlet Knights.
Jeremy Fears is so good, he ended up with 29 and nine assists.
Next for Sparty? Michigan at the Breslin Center on Friday, which is also Izzo’s 71st birthday.
Jeremy Fears is so good, he ended up with 29 and nine assists.
Next for Sparty? Michigan at the Breslin Center on Friday, which is also Izzo’s 71st birthday.
January 28, 2026 at 1:56 AM
Michigan State’s going to do this, taking Rutgers to overtime and leaving with an 88-79 win over the Scarlet Knights.
Jeremy Fears is so good, he ended up with 29 and nine assists.
Next for Sparty? Michigan at the Breslin Center on Friday, which is also Izzo’s 71st birthday.
Jeremy Fears is so good, he ended up with 29 and nine assists.
Next for Sparty? Michigan at the Breslin Center on Friday, which is also Izzo’s 71st birthday.
And Sparty did kick out of the RAC Attack, @anonymouseagle.bsky.social. We had an all-new episode of #RutgersGonnaRutgers instead.
Hey @anonymouseagle.bsky.social, you might want to go to FS1.
Sparty’s trying to kick out of a RAC Attack.
Sparty’s trying to kick out of a RAC Attack.
January 28, 2026 at 1:52 AM
And Sparty did kick out of the RAC Attack, @anonymouseagle.bsky.social. We had an all-new episode of #RutgersGonnaRutgers instead.
Sparty/Purdue being relegated to Peacock next month just feels so wrong.
Jeremy Fears vs. Braden Smith is must-watch.
Jeremy Fears vs. Braden Smith is must-watch.
January 28, 2026 at 1:47 AM
Sparty/Purdue being relegated to Peacock next month just feels so wrong.
Jeremy Fears vs. Braden Smith is must-watch.
Jeremy Fears vs. Braden Smith is must-watch.
Davis makes the second, Ugochukwu rattled in a left corner three, Rutgers couldn’t get a layup to go at the horn.
Five more minutes at the RAC, which could be costly for the 9:44 train back to New York, as the Scarlet Knights and Michigan State are tied at 73. #RHoops #Spartans
Five more minutes at the RAC, which could be costly for the 9:44 train back to New York, as the Scarlet Knights and Michigan State are tied at 73. #RHoops #Spartans
January 28, 2026 at 1:40 AM
First one off the front rim.
Fears just missed the first of two at the line, but made the second.
Crucial split there, as Rutgers clings to a 72-70 lead with 17 seconds left. Davis will have a chance to double the lead here. #RHoops
Crucial split there, as Rutgers clings to a 72-70 lead with 17 seconds left. Davis will have a chance to double the lead here. #RHoops
January 28, 2026 at 1:35 AM
First one off the front rim.
Fears just missed the first of two at the line, but made the second.
Crucial split there, as Rutgers clings to a 72-70 lead with 17 seconds left. Davis will have a chance to double the lead here. #RHoops
Crucial split there, as Rutgers clings to a 72-70 lead with 17 seconds left. Davis will have a chance to double the lead here. #RHoops
January 28, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Fears just missed the first of two at the line, but made the second.
Crucial split there, as Rutgers clings to a 72-70 lead with 17 seconds left. Davis will have a chance to double the lead here. #RHoops
Crucial split there, as Rutgers clings to a 72-70 lead with 17 seconds left. Davis will have a chance to double the lead here. #RHoops
Fears couldn’t get an open man, missed a jumper, got his own rebound and putback to get Michigan State within one, then Davis was quickly fouled.
First one good, so is the second.
Sparty has a timeout and can hold for the tie. Izzo calls it with 21.8 seconds left, down 72-69.
First one good, so is the second.
Sparty has a timeout and can hold for the tie. Izzo calls it with 21.8 seconds left, down 72-69.
January 28, 2026 at 1:32 AM
Fears couldn’t get an open man, missed a jumper, got his own rebound and putback to get Michigan State within one, then Davis was quickly fouled.
First one good, so is the second.
Sparty has a timeout and can hold for the tie. Izzo calls it with 21.8 seconds left, down 72-69.
First one good, so is the second.
Sparty has a timeout and can hold for the tie. Izzo calls it with 21.8 seconds left, down 72-69.
Francis just drew the foul on a left elbow jumper. That’s three on Ugochukwu. Remember, Fears has four for Michigan State.
Here’s Tariq at the line: Good and good. Rutgers is back front with 59 seconds left, 69-67. #RHoops
Here’s Tariq at the line: Good and good. Rutgers is back front with 59 seconds left, 69-67. #RHoops
January 28, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Francis just drew the foul on a left elbow jumper. That’s three on Ugochukwu. Remember, Fears has four for Michigan State.
Here’s Tariq at the line: Good and good. Rutgers is back front with 59 seconds left, 69-67. #RHoops
Here’s Tariq at the line: Good and good. Rutgers is back front with 59 seconds left, 69-67. #RHoops
Rutgers has left the door open just enough for the last 10 minutes, and Michigan State is poised to capitalize.
Sparty can tie with a three, and it looks like it could get that the old-fashioned way now. Fears just drove to the rack, and one. Free throw good.
Level at 67 now.
Sparty can tie with a three, and it looks like it could get that the old-fashioned way now. Fears just drove to the rack, and one. Free throw good.
Level at 67 now.
January 28, 2026 at 1:25 AM
Rutgers has left the door open just enough for the last 10 minutes, and Michigan State is poised to capitalize.
Sparty can tie with a three, and it looks like it could get that the old-fashioned way now. Fears just drove to the rack, and one. Free throw good.
Level at 67 now.
Sparty can tie with a three, and it looks like it could get that the old-fashioned way now. Fears just drove to the rack, and one. Free throw good.
Level at 67 now.
Jeremy Fears now has FOUR fouls for Sparty.
January 28, 2026 at 1:21 AM
Jeremy Fears now has FOUR fouls for Sparty.
They’re going down the stretch in New Jersey, and Rutgers is 3:51 away from one of the bigger upsets of the season.
Get to FS1 if you can. The Scarlet Knights are trying to get their 65-57 lead across the wire over No. 7 Michigan State. #RHoops #TheKnighthood
Get to FS1 if you can. The Scarlet Knights are trying to get their 65-57 lead across the wire over No. 7 Michigan State. #RHoops #TheKnighthood
January 28, 2026 at 1:18 AM
They’re going down the stretch in New Jersey, and Rutgers is 3:51 away from one of the bigger upsets of the season.
Get to FS1 if you can. The Scarlet Knights are trying to get their 65-57 lead across the wire over No. 7 Michigan State. #RHoops #TheKnighthood
Get to FS1 if you can. The Scarlet Knights are trying to get their 65-57 lead across the wire over No. 7 Michigan State. #RHoops #TheKnighthood
Hey @anonymouseagle.bsky.social, you might want to go to FS1.
Sparty’s trying to kick out of a RAC Attack.
Sparty’s trying to kick out of a RAC Attack.
January 28, 2026 at 1:13 AM
Hey @anonymouseagle.bsky.social, you might want to go to FS1.
Sparty’s trying to kick out of a RAC Attack.
Sparty’s trying to kick out of a RAC Attack.
And there it is!
Pikiell floater, 15 seconds, U12.
Pikiell floater, 15 seconds, U12.
Michigan State is back within seven after Rutgers stretched its lead up to 11, and now Pikiell wants a word. He’ll get one with 11:32 to go and the Scarlet Knights ahead, 51-44.
We could be headed for @sportsmatters.bsky.social’s favorite segment here if the next whistle comes quick.
We could be headed for @sportsmatters.bsky.social’s favorite segment here if the next whistle comes quick.
January 28, 2026 at 12:58 AM
And there it is!
Pikiell floater, 15 seconds, U12.
Pikiell floater, 15 seconds, U12.
Michigan State is back within seven after Rutgers stretched its lead up to 11, and now Pikiell wants a word. He’ll get one with 11:32 to go and the Scarlet Knights ahead, 51-44.
We could be headed for @sportsmatters.bsky.social’s favorite segment here if the next whistle comes quick.
We could be headed for @sportsmatters.bsky.social’s favorite segment here if the next whistle comes quick.
January 28, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Michigan State is back within seven after Rutgers stretched its lead up to 11, and now Pikiell wants a word. He’ll get one with 11:32 to go and the Scarlet Knights ahead, 51-44.
We could be headed for @sportsmatters.bsky.social’s favorite segment here if the next whistle comes quick.
We could be headed for @sportsmatters.bsky.social’s favorite segment here if the next whistle comes quick.
Rutgers went up 12 on its first possession out of the half, but Michigan State is back within seven at the U16.
With 15:57 on the clock in Piscataway, the #Spartans are within a 42-35 margin here.
With 15:57 on the clock in Piscataway, the #Spartans are within a 42-35 margin here.
January 28, 2026 at 12:45 AM
Rutgers went up 12 on its first possession out of the half, but Michigan State is back within seven at the U16.
With 15:57 on the clock in Piscataway, the #Spartans are within a 42-35 margin here.
With 15:57 on the clock in Piscataway, the #Spartans are within a 42-35 margin here.
How many of you had Rutgers going to the locker room up nine on Michigan State? I’ll wait a couple minutes.
Francis and Buchanan have 22 combined, and the two of them — plus Dylan Grant — are driving the bus through 20.
Scarlet Knights 37, Sparty 28 at halftime. #RHoops
Francis and Buchanan have 22 combined, and the two of them — plus Dylan Grant — are driving the bus through 20.
Scarlet Knights 37, Sparty 28 at halftime. #RHoops
January 28, 2026 at 12:22 AM
How many of you had Rutgers going to the locker room up nine on Michigan State? I’ll wait a couple minutes.
Francis and Buchanan have 22 combined, and the two of them — plus Dylan Grant — are driving the bus through 20.
Scarlet Knights 37, Sparty 28 at halftime. #RHoops
Francis and Buchanan have 22 combined, and the two of them — plus Dylan Grant — are driving the bus through 20.
Scarlet Knights 37, Sparty 28 at halftime. #RHoops
Rutgers is getting outrebounded by a 13-5 count, but the Scarlet Knights have made five threes and just committed their first turnover of the night not too long ago.
The crisp start has yielded a 23-18 lead over Michigan State with 7:49 left in the first half. #RHoops
The crisp start has yielded a 23-18 lead over Michigan State with 7:49 left in the first half. #RHoops
January 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Rutgers is getting outrebounded by a 13-5 count, but the Scarlet Knights have made five threes and just committed their first turnover of the night not too long ago.
The crisp start has yielded a 23-18 lead over Michigan State with 7:49 left in the first half. #RHoops
The crisp start has yielded a 23-18 lead over Michigan State with 7:49 left in the first half. #RHoops
Tariq Francis is doing the microwave thing again. He’s got eight points off the bench, Rutgers has a 21-13 lead with 9:46 remaining in the opening stanza, and with a line change set to check in after a long wait for a whistle, Izzo pulled the cord on a 30.
That’s where we’re at.
That’s where we’re at.
January 27, 2026 at 11:53 PM
Tariq Francis is doing the microwave thing again. He’s got eight points off the bench, Rutgers has a 21-13 lead with 9:46 remaining in the opening stanza, and with a line change set to check in after a long wait for a whistle, Izzo pulled the cord on a 30.
That’s where we’re at.
That’s where we’re at.
Rutgers has an 8-7 lead through the first 5:10, buoyed by threes from Buchanan and Grant. Jaxon Kohler has already had to switch jerseys for Michigan State, so the physicality is present form the jump. Fears will shoot on the other side of the timeout to try to put Sparty ahead.
January 27, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Rutgers has an 8-7 lead through the first 5:10, buoyed by threes from Buchanan and Grant. Jaxon Kohler has already had to switch jerseys for Michigan State, so the physicality is present form the jump. Fears will shoot on the other side of the timeout to try to put Sparty ahead.
Off and running at the RAC, where Rutgers comes up too strong on its first offensive possession and gives up a goaltend to Kohler for the first points of the night. Since last I was here, the Scarlet Knight starters are introduced to the Undertaker’s theme. Pretty cool visual.
January 27, 2026 at 11:33 PM
Off and running at the RAC, where Rutgers comes up too strong on its first offensive possession and gives up a goaltend to Kohler for the first points of the night. Since last I was here, the Scarlet Knight starters are introduced to the Undertaker’s theme. Pretty cool visual.