MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Michigan State’s preseason ended with a second straight loss on Sunday, as the sixth-ranked Spartans fell 86-79 at Marquette in an exhibition that did not count toward either team’s record.
A cold first half did the damage. The Spartans made only 7 of 27 shots before the break, under 26 percent, while the Golden Eagles hit 15 of 23 with five 3-pointers to take a 43-31 lead into halftime.
Marquette stretched the gap to 16 early in the second half. Michigan State answered with an 11-0 burst that cut the deficit to 52-47 with a little more than 12 minutes to play, but the Spartans could not get closer down the stretch.
The numbers favored the hosts across the board. Marquette shot 57.4 percent for the game, made half of its 18 tries from deep and won the rebounding battle 33-23. Michigan State finished at 39.6 percent from the floor.
The trip was Michigan State’s first game in Milwaukee against Marquette since 1956, and it was the Golden Eagles’ first public exhibition on their home floor since the 2021-22 preseason.
Michigan State closes its exhibition slate at 1-2. The Spartans routed Incarnate Word 89-59 in the Izzone Campout Game on Oct. 2 and lost 78-70 at home to No. 4 UConn on Tuesday before Sunday’s trip. The regular season comes next.
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