EAST LANSING – For months, Tom Izzo sought more from Michigan State basketball’s shooting guards.
Jordan Scott finally answered Izzo’s pleas. And now, the freshman might need to take on another responsibility from his Hall of Fame coach: playing some point guard.
Advertisement
Scott reached double digits in scoring for the fifth straight game as the 15th-ranked Spartans throttled UCLA, 82-59, on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at Breslin Center. He hit three 3-pointers for the third time in his last four outings, helping MSU (21-5, 10-5) set a new single-game season high of 14 triples.
“I think when other people see the ball going in, it boosts everybody’s confidence for when they shoot the ball,” said Scott, who had 11 points while making 4 of 5 shots overall. “It boosts everybody’s energy and everything, too.”
SHOT MAKERS? Michigan State basketball surprise shows what Spartans can do
Michigan State’s Jordan Scott makes a 3-pointer against UCLA during the first half on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
The Spartans had lost three of their previous four games entering Tuesday and made just 28 of 98 (28.6%) of their 3s in those games. Against the Bruins, Scott was one of four players who hit multiple 3s, with Jeremy Fears Jr. making a career-high four, Kur Teng hitting three and Coen Carr hitting two.
Advertisement
“We trust that our guys all, everyone in this locker room, can take and make shots,” said Fears, who went 4-for-8 from deep to finish with 16 points and 10 assists. “We all put in time, we all put in work. It’s like, why not take it? And we all trust that it’s going in. All it takes is one to go in and you have a little confidence, then just keep letting it fly.”
Scott is averaging 11.4 points and has hit 11 of 24 3-point attempts over the past five games. He’s also grabbed 17 rebounds over that time, eight of them coming on the offensive glass.
After starting his college career 1-for-13 from deep in his first seven games, the 6-foot-8, 200-pound native of Virginia has made 42.2% (27-for-64) in the last 19 games. He’s also averaging 20.7 minutes a game in that span while starting MSU’s last four games.
“I think just coming in, it was being ready to shoot,” said Scott, who was 4-for-13 against Wisconsin last Friday. “Which, after last game, I got open looks and some of them didn’t fall. It’s just staying confident in my shot.”
Advertisement
When Fears checked out for good against the Bruins with 3:19 to play, leading by 28 points, Izzo reinserted Scott into the game to give him a one-minute cameo running MSU’s offense before Scott returned to the bench. The Spartans lost combo guard Divine Ugochukwu earlier this month to a broken foot, and Izzo said Denham Wojcik suffered a shoulder injury in his 2:24 of action in the first half and did not play again.
While Wojcik’s status remains unclear heading into Sunday’s home game against Ohio State (1 p.m./CBS), Izzo previously said he knew he would need to explore other emergency options after losing Ugochukwu, who had been Fears’ primary backup the first three months.
Michigan State’s Jordan Scott, right, looks to pass as UCLA’s Tyler Bilodeau closes in during the first half on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.
“I’m not ready to give him that position yet, but I did like it that we said we’re gonna live with that a little bit,” Izzo said of Scott’s brief turn at point. “It’s good for him to handle the ball. Jordan Scott has been phenomenal, he really has. He does it defensively, he does it offensively. He’s getting better. And the thing is, he’s so unentitled. So he’s one of my favorite human beings, because there’s no entitlement in Jordan Scott.
Advertisement
“Because of that, I think he’s gonna get better and better and better.”
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
Subscribe to the “Spartan Speak” podcast for new episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.
Next up: Buckeyes
Matchup: No. 15 Michigan State (21-5, 11-4 Big Ten) vs. Ohio State (17-9, 9-6).
Tipoff: 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22; Breslin Center, East Lansing.
TV/radio: CBS; WJR-AM (760).
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State basketball freshman Jordan Scott plays some point guard
