Spartans play 2nd road game at Pauley Pavilion in Program History

**Pauley Pavilion- LOS ANGELES, CA**

Tom Izzo will not be setting a record tonight but rather revisiting a fabled arena for only the second time as MSU’s head coach. Tonight’s matchup against Mick Cronin’s Bruins will be only the second time UCLA has hosted MSU since a home-and-home series in 2003/04 and 2004/05 of which both teams won their respective home contests. The teams have met six times prior, the last coming in an OT classic, 88-80 2021 NCAA Tournament game in West Lafayette, IN. Four of the other five games have been in November tournaments, with UCLA claiming an additional March Madness game in 2011 in Tampa, FL.

UCLA (16-6, 7-4) will be a tough matchup for MSU (18-3, 9-1) as they carry a 5-game winning streak with some impressive wins to bolster their at-large application to the Tournament Committee and gear up for a March run of their own. Their defense is 18th in Ken Pom (45th Offense) and they really lean on slowing the tempo (279th Bart Torvik) and relying on their defense to win. UCLA allows a LOT of free throws per game ranking 282nd out of almost 360 Division 1 teams and come in at 330th in 3PT Defense Rate. That won’t help MSU too much as they don’t shoot well from the outside, but their free throw margin gap should swing heavily in MSU’s favor. Additionally, UCLA is very good at forcing turnovers and check in 4th overall in the nation. MSU’s guards especially will need to take care of the ball when working the offense but also when initiating dribble penetration to the paint.

Bruins focus players are led by Jr Forward Tyler Bilodeau (14.0 ppg, 4.7 reb/g) shooting 51% from FG and a nice 41.9% from 3-pt. Sr Guard Kobe Johnson is their leading rebounder at just under 6.0 reb/g and 8.7 ppg. Other double digit scoring averages are Soph G/F Eric Dailey Jr at 12.4 ppg, 4.3 reb/g and averages a team best 53.4% FG rate (of those that average 15+ min per game). Soph Guard Sebastian Mack averages an even 10 ppg and a team best 76.0% FT clip.

MSU will need to get out in transition as UCLA logs heavy starter minutes and a consistent 2-man bench rotation of 15+ minutes while 3 others average between 10-13 minutes a game. Longer possessions mean tougher times playing defense and that suits MSU’s style a bit more than UCLA in the hopes they can rack up foul trouble and continue to convert at the free-throw line as they’ve done virtually all season (minus the USC hiccup). Look for the big men to come out and really work the paint and the pick-and-roll situations. This should free up the lane for Coen Carr and Xavier Booker to continue their high-flying act and wear down the Bruin interior. As much as the guards have been helpful, this could be a game for Frankie Fidler to really have a big game on both ends and alleviate some of the shooting woes that Jaden Akins and Jeremy Fears have been dealing with recently. Tre Holloman will be looked at, with Fidler, to slow down the Bruin backcourt and make this a more traditional, Coach Izzo type of half-court game he’s been historically used to. In the end, I expect the guards to rack up more layups and points from the line and really exercise their elite 2-pt shooting percentage and equally as good defensively. The forwards will need to throw their weight around and hold their box outs and get after loose balls to keep UCLA from making any sustained runs that are not self-inflicted.

This should be a good matchup as MSU looks to return home this weekend with a 1-1 west coast trip and keep the momentum and most importantly, hold onto the top spot in the Big Ten.

TELECAST: Game can be seen on Peacock at 10:00pm EST, Tuesday 2/4