Michigan State to host Detroit Mercy on Nov. 21
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State gained a new non-conference opponent on Wednesday.
The Spartans will host Detroit Mercy on Nov. 21, according to the Titans’ Twitter page. It marks the teams’ first meeting since Michigan State defeated Detroit Mercy, 83-76, at the Breslin Center on Dec. 4, 2020. Before that, the programs hadn’t met since 1997.
Detroit Mercy is coached by former Spartan assistant Mark Montgomery, who spent 13 seasons on Tom Izzo’s staff (2001-11, 2021-24) before taking the Detroit Mercy job in April 2024. Montgomery, a four-year letter winner at Michigan State under Jud Heathcote, led the Titans to an 8-24 finish last season, his first as head coach. They finished 4-16 in the Horizon League.
Detroit Mercy will look to take a step in year two of the Montgomery era. Montgomery took over a team that finished 1-31 (1-19) in 2023-24.
Izzo and Montgomery last coached against each other on Dec. 29, 2018, when Michigan State defeated Montgomery’s Northern Illinois Huskies, 88-60, at the Breslin Center.
What else do we know about Michigan State’s 2025-26 schedule?
Michigan State and Connecticut scheduled a home-and-home exhibition series on July 24. The Spartans will face the Huskies in a pre-season contest in Storrs on Oct. 28, and Dan Hurley’s team will return the favor at the Breslin Center one year later.
As for the regular season, Michigan State will meet Kentucky on Nov. 18, as part of the 2025 Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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Michigan State will also play East Carolina and North Carolina at the 2025 Fort Myers Tip-Off. The Spartans and Pirates will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 25, with the game against the Tar Heels coming two days later, on Thanksgiving.
Michigan State is set to host Duke on Dec. 6, the return game of a home-and-home series that began with a Champions Classic matchup at Cameron Indoor Stadium during the 2020-21 season.
Just over one week later, Michigan State will host Toledo on either Dec. 16 or 17, according to a release from the Rocket program. The Spartans will also play their annual game against Oakland, though a date has yet to be announced.
Michigan State will play Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Northwestern, Ohio State, UCLA and USC at the Breslin Center during the 2025-26 Big Ten season. The Spartans will travel to play Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, Washington and Wisconsin. Izzo’s team will play Indiana, Michigan and Rutgers once at home and once on the road.
