Michigan State asserted their dominance early against UCLA with suffocating defense, forcing the conference's top three-point shooting team into contested shots. The Spartans built a commanding lead behind strong performances from Jaxon Kohler, Jeremy Fears, and Jordan Scott, who each contributed key baskets.
UCLA struggled to find offensive rhythm, going more than eight minutes without scoring before finally getting a layup to fall. Michigan State's defensive intensity was the story of the game as they consistently disrupted UCLA's offensive flow.