Carson Cooper scores 19 points and No. 10 Michigan State beats struggling Oregon 68-52

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Oregon forward Kwame Evans Jr. (10) shoots against Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler (0) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Thomas Boyd)

Michigan State guard Jeremy Fears Jr. (1) drives to the basket against Oregon forward Oleksandr Kobzystyi (6) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Thomas Boyd) — Oregon forward Kwame Evans Jr. (10) shoots against Michigan State forward Jaxon Kohler (0) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Eugene, Ore., Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Thomas Boyd)

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8:17 PM on Tuesday, January 20

By ANNE M. PETERSON

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Carson Cooper scored 19 points and No. 10 Michigan State won its fifth straight game, 68-52 over struggling Oregon on Tuesday night.

Coen Carr added 15 points and eight rebounds for the Spartans (17-2, 7-1 Big Ten), whose lone conference loss this season was to undefeated Nebraska.

Takai Simpkins scored 15 points for the Ducks (8-11, 1-7), who have lost five straight.

The Ducks were without two of their biggest playmakers. Senior center Nate Bittle was sidelined after injuring his ankle in a 90-55 loss at Nebraska last week. The 7-footer, who was averaging 16.3 points, is expected to be out for a month.

Jackson Shelstad, who was averaging 15.6 points, has not played since he injured his hand in a game against Omaha on Dec. 28 and appears likely to miss the rest of the season.

Michigan State, which was coming off an 80-63 win at Washington on Saturday, jumped out to a 13-4 lead, but the Ducks responded, pulling in front 22-21 on Luke Johnson's layup. The Spartans held a 28-26 lead at the break.

Kwame Evans Jr. hit a jumper and Ege Demir added a layup to put the Ducks up 38-35. The Spartans answered with consecutive baskets from Carson Cooper and Trey Fort to reclaim the lead.

The Spartans began to pull away midway through the half, taking a 53-42 lead on Carr's layup with 7:17 left. Michigan State led by 18 points down the stretch.

The Spartans won both meetings with the Ducks last season and improved to 5-2 against Oregon.

Up next

Michigan State hosts Maryland on Saturday.

Oregon visits rival Washington in Seattle on Sunday.

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