Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from huge road win at Penn State

EAST LANSING, MI - DECEMBER 04: A.J. Hoggard #11 of the Michigan State Spartans talks to Mady Sissoko #22 of the Michigan State Spartans in the first half of the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Breslin Center on December 4, 2022 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

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Lose to Northwestern at home, beat Penn State on the road. Michigan State basketball officially makes no sense this season but we’re all here for the ride.

The Spartans are now 6-4 after a big road win and they’re now 1-1 in Big Ten play. This was a heck of a way to bounce back from a disappointing home loss to Northwestern on Sunday.

What did we learn from this massive road win over the Nittany Lions?

3. Jaxon Kohler showed some flashes

It was nice to see a lot of Jaxon Kohler in the first half and he looked solid, for the most part. He did short-arm some of the shots that he’s struggled with all season (falling away from the hoop), but he was 3-for-6 from the floor and gave the Spartans some good minutes.

It’s nice to get a contribution like the one he gave in the post although he didn’t play much in the second half.

Kohler still has a lot to work to do on both ends of the floor but he at least showed flashes against Penn State in a hostile environment.

This could be a good sign moving forward.

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