Michigan State, Coen Carr dunk FAU, 86-69

Connor Earegood, The Detroit News on Dec 21, 2024

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EAST LANSING, Mich. — Tom Izzo might have asked for focus from his Michigan State team Saturday against Florida Atlantic, its final game before Christmas break. But Coen Carr demanded that attention.

A four-dunk performance from Carr captivated a raucous Breslin Center crowd as the Spartans routed Florida Atlantic, 86-69. Carr scored 17 points, many of which came in highlight-reel fashion.

Guards Jaden Akins and Jeremy Fears Jr. scored 13 points apiece for the Spartans (10-2). Tre Carroll led Florida Atlantic (7-6) with a game-high 24 points.

After giving up the opening bucket on a KyKy Tandy 3-pointer, the Spartans put together an 8-0 run enabled by strong rebounding from forward Jaxon Kohler and crafty playmaking from point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. But this quickly faded into a run of Florida Atlantic’s own. After a little under 12 minutes, the Spartans trailed 20-19.

However, Florida Atlantic soon took frequent fouls — racking up 15 in the first half. With three players in foul trouble for significant stretches, including explosive scorer Baba Miller, Florida Atlantic lost some of the aggression that helped it hang tough around the rim with Michigan State.

But no one played with more aggression than Carr, who made two highlight-reel dunks to blow the game open. Both showcased his leaping ability, vertically and horizontally, as he slammed the ball home. These keyed an 8-0 run for the Spartans, their third such run of the first half.

By the time the first half ended, Michigan State maintained a 42-29 lead, with a 25-17 lead on the glass. In the second half, the Spartans outscored Florida Atlantic 44-40.

Michigan State came out strong after the break, stretching the lead to 17 before Florida Atlantic mustered a response. With a big lead, the Spartans turned to a bench lineup including Carr and guard Jase Richardson, who made a heady dish to Carr for another dunk and hit a 3-pointer of his own.

Meanwhile, Carr kept on dunking. He slammed home his fourth of the game nine minutes into the half, as his Spartans stretched the lead. And even if dunking is a strength for Carr, he also showed his progress in a weakness by making his first career 3-pointer with 4:44 left. He followed it up with a long 2-pointer to boot.

This made for a career-high game in scoring for Carr with 17 points, part of a 43-point performance from Michigan State’s bench. Florida Atlantic, another team with strong depth, received 32 points from its reserves, though its fouls gave the bench lots of playing time.

As the final two minutes ticked down, Michigan State got a scare as Akins went down with an injury after taking contact near the basket.

Michigan State didn’t take its eyes off Florida Atlantic, and no one could take eyes off of Carr in the process.

The Spartans play their next game Dec. 30, hosting Western Michigan.