Michigan State men's basketball has struggled to live up to lofty preseason expectations this season, and while no single individual has been responsible for those struggles, junior guard Jaden Akins mirrored them in a way.
After shooting 42.2% from 3-point range last year as a sophomore, Akins percentage from long range had dipped to 35.6% heading into last night's game against in-state rival Michigan. Yet, the annual matchups with the Wolverines have a way of drawing out the Spartans' best, particularly at home in the Breslin Center.
Following an 81-62 win for MSU, starting point guard A.J. Hoggard said he got a sense that Akins was ready to break out of his slump during the Spartans' pregame preparation.
“He had a little fire to him after shootaround today,” Hoggard said of Akins. “He was kind of mad that I didn’t pass him this one shot. I told him to bring it to the game, I need five 3′s tonight.”
Akins did Hoggard two better, knocking down a career-high seven 3-pointers on his way to a career-high 23 points.
“I just was shooting them with confidence and they were going in,” Akins said, “so I’m like I’m going to keep shooting them when I’m open.”
Fortunately for Michigan State, the Wolverines left Akins open a lot in the first half, where the junior poured in four of his seven triples and was the only Spartan to score in double figures through 20 minutes. Due to Akins' efforts, MSU trailed its rival by only two points at halftime despite the fact Michigan shot 56% from the field in the opening frame.
“The guy that really saved us was Jaden Akins," head coach Tom Izzo said after the game, referring to Michigan State's struggling defense and rebounding in the first half.
Akins still had a hot hand after the Spartans came out of the halftime locker room, hitting three more 3-pointers and helping Michigan State outscore the Wolverines by 21 points in the second half.
“Jaden hit some backbreakers that really hurt us,” Michigan coach Juwan Howard said postgame, “and also gave the crowd the energy and also it united their team.”
After his stellar performance against the Wolverines, Akins' 3-point shooting percentage jumped to 39% on the year and the junior has confidence this game will be the turning point of his 2023-24 season.
“I feel like I was due. … I feel like I just kind of got back on track tonight,” Akins said. “I grew up watching the rivalry so I wanted to have a good game versus them. It’s cool that I got my career high versus them in a win.”
Four of Jaden Akins' seven 3-pointers vs. Michigan can be viewed in the highlight clips below:
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