What Is the Score for the Michigan State Game: Spartans Top Nebraska in Thriller

If you’re looking for what is the score for the Michigan State game, you caught a wild one tonight. The No. 15 Spartans just wrapped up a nail-biter at the Breslin Center, edging out No. 24 Nebraska with a final score of 73-71.

Honestly, it shouldn’t have been this close. But that's Big Ten basketball for you. One minute you're up by nine, and the next, you're sweating out free throws with five seconds on the clock.

The Final Score and How We Got Here

Tonight, January 15, 2026, was basically a masterclass in "survive and advance." Michigan State moved to 17-1 overall and 6-1 in the conference. That is officially the best start in the history of the program. Let that sink in for a second. Even the legendary teams of the past didn't hit the ground running quite like this squad.

Grace VanSlooten was the engine. She put up 22 points, and while she cooled off a bit in the fourth, her presence inside kept Nebraska’s defense in a blender for most of the night.

• Final Score: Michigan State 73, Nebraska 71
• Key Performer: Grace VanSlooten (22 pts)
• The Hero: Juliann Woodward (Game-sealing free throws)
• Record Watch: 17-1 (Program best)

The game felt like a heavyweight fight. Nebraska didn't blink, even when the Breslin crowd got loud. Amiah Hargrove was a problem all night for the Spartans, finishing with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting. When she hit that field goal with 1:35 left to put the Huskers up 69-66, things looked pretty grim for the home team.

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What Is the Score for the Michigan State Game and Why the Finish Was Intense

People keep asking what is the score for the Michigan State game because the lead changed hands so many times in the final two minutes. It was exhausting just watching it.

After Hargrove’s bucket, Jalyn Brown hit a massive three-pointer. It was Michigan State's only three of the entire second half. Talk about timing. That tied it at 69. Then Nebraska's Prince hit a tough jumper with the shot clock dying. 71-69 Nebraska.

Then came the chaos.

Rashunda Jones got fouled and calmly sank two free throws to tie it again at 71 with about 40 seconds left. Nebraska had a chance to win it or at least take the final shot, but they turned it over on the baseline. That gave MSU the ball back. Juliann Woodward grabbed a huge offensive rebound, got hacked, and stepped to the line with 5.1 seconds left.

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She rattled both home. Nebraska’s desperation heave at the buzzer was way off.

Why this win matters

This wasn't just another January win. Michigan State had actually lost three straight to Nebraska coming into this game. Breaking that streak is a huge psychological hurdle, especially when you're trying to stay at the top of the Big Ten standings.

1. Breaking the Jinx: First win against Nebraska since the 2022-23 season.
2. Home Dominance: The Breslin Center remains a nightmare for visiting ranked teams.
3. Standings: Keeps them right in the hunt for a top seed in the Big Ten Tournament.

Looking Ahead: What's Next for the Spartans?

The schedule doesn't get any easier. If you are tracking the score tonight, you'll probably want to keep your eyes peeled for Sunday. The Spartans have to travel to Iowa City to take on No. 11 Iowa. That is a massive road test.

For the men's team, they are currently in a bit of a gap. They just beat Indiana 81-60 a couple of days ago and don't play again until Saturday, January 17, when they head out west to face the Washington Huskies in Seattle.

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If you're a fan of MSU sports, this week is basically a buffet. We've got gymnastics starting their Big Ten season at Iowa and wrestling taking on No. 11 Illinois. But clearly, the basketball team is the main event right now.

To stay ahead of the curve, make sure you're checking the official MSU athletics composite schedule or following the live trackers on major sports networks. These mid-week Big Ten games have a habit of starting at odd times—tonight was a 7 PM ET tip—so double-checking the start times on the day of the game is usually a smart move.

Go Green.

Actionable Next Steps:

• Check the Standings: Look at the updated Big Ten women's basketball standings to see how MSU's 6-1 record compares to Ohio State and Indiana.
• Set an Alert: The next game is Sunday against No. 11 Iowa; set a notification for 5:00 PM PST to catch the tip-off.
• Review the Men's Schedule: Prepare for the late-night tip-off in Seattle this Saturday against Washington.