Spartans Fall at Marquette 86-79, Close the Preseason at 1-2

A cold start did MSU in on Sunday in Milwaukee. The No. 6 Spartans dug themselves a 43-31 halftime hole on the road at Fiserv Forum — MSU's first trip to Marquette since 1956 — and could never fully climb out, dropping the final exhibition 86-79. Marquette shot a scorching 57.4 percent for the game and hit five first-half threes while we labored to 25.9 percent before the break. There was fight, though. Down 52-36, MSU ripped off an 11-0 run and pulled within five at 52-47 with 12:10 left. Jasiah Jervis led the way with 19, Jordan Scott chipped in 18 with three steals, and Jeremy Fears Jr. — your AP Preseason All-American — poured in 18 with seven assists. The red flags were the glass and the bench: Marquette out-rebounded MSU 33-23 and out-scored the Spartans reserves 39-9. Tom Izzo has work to do before the lights come on, and the preseason closes at 1-2. Plenty to sharpen. Now it's real. We open the 2026-27 season Monday, Nov. 2, hosting Quinnipiac at the Breslin Center at 7 PM.