INDIANAPOLIS — It only took warmups for Michigan State coach Tom Izzo to get a feeling about Friday’s Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal against Oregon. Against an eight seed Ducks team riding an eight-game win streak, he expected his first-seed Spartans to have their hands full. He even went back to the locker room and told assistant coach Doug Wojcik, “we’re in trouble.”

“They don’t miss a shot,” Izzo said. “They’re big, they’re strong.”

Now, they’re eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament. Because as much as Izzo’s warning came to fruition at times Friday afternoon at Indianapolis’ Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Michigan State stayed in front of Oregon in a decisive 74-64 win to open up its Big Ten Tournament run. Paced by four players scoring in double digits and strong work on defense and the glass, the Spartans opened one-and-done play with a win.

Michigan State will play Wisconsin in the Big Ten semifinal 1 p.m. Saturday (CBS). Friday’s win over Oregon is its 12th Quad 1 win of the season, boosting its case for a 1-seed on Selection Sunday.

Izzo’s warning about Oregon made sense. One only had to look back to the last time these teams played to see why. In the win Feb. 8 when Izzo tied Indiana great Bob Knight’s career Big Ten wins record, Michigan State (27-5) trailed by 14 at halftime before mounting a major comeback. Oregon (24-9) hadn’t lost since.

This time, Michigan State got off to a better start. It scored the first eight points to take control before a 9-2 Oregon run brought the game right back. The first half proved a war of attrition, with each team grinding out offense in the halfcourt and battling for defensive stops. The shot clock bled down on many possessions.

Jeremy Fears Jr. — who watched the last meeting with Oregon from his couch because he was sick — played a big role with his playmaking, but also his defense on Oregon guard Jackson Shelstad. The same could be said for center Carson Cooper off the bench, who heard a friendly crowd shout “Coop” when he drew a first-half charge on the baseline. Michigan State guards Jaden Akins, Tre Holloman and Jase Richardson all found ways to score from midrange, finding space in Oregon’s coverage.

“We knew they were going to be really aggressive, pressing us and denying us,” Akins said. “So we got a couple back doors to happen, which led to Coen (Carr)’s dunk at the end. … I feel like they were playing drop coverage, so we just tried to do our best to do damage in the midrange.”

It took until the final three minutes for Michigan State to pull away. After a corner 3 from Carr, his team outscored Oregon 18-7 in the final six minutes of the half to take a 42-32 lead.

Michigan State wasn’t so crisp to start the second half. An overshot 3 from Fears turned over the first possession with a shot-clock violation. A travel from Fears turned over the next. Szymon Zapala fouled away the third possession before Kohler turned over the fifth. As Oregon’s TJ Bamba scored on the break as part of 15 points off turnovers, Michigan State’s lead fell to just four points.

Just as the game got out of control, Michigan State seized control. Frankie Fidler drew first blood of a 15-0 run off the bench, adding a 3 later in the sequence. Richardson nailed a 3 to take a 57-43 lead at 10:47 before scoring a midrange off one leg right after.

Richardson led Michigan State with 17 points on 4-for-13 shooting. It’s the most he’s ever shot the ball in the game, a milestone for a player whose first start came 10 games ago against Oregon. Such an upgrade in role came with hiccups, however, as he shot well below his season average.

“He’s just very efficient, very intelligent,” Izzo said. “And I think he knows he’s gotta do some things when we get stagnant and talks to me about moving the ball more. I talked to him tonight when he said, ‘I’m not shooting well.’ I said, ‘Let me worry about that. You just keep doing your job.”

Richardson left the game with 51 seconds to play after Bamba’s knee collided with his head and neck, knocking him to the ground. He split his free throws before subbing out, but said after the game he’ll play in Saturday’s semifinal.

As much as Richardson, Coen Carr factored in heavily during this run — not only for his putback dunk early in it, but especially his strong rebounding and defensive play. Carr tied a career-high with eight rebounds, including five during the run.

“Coen grew up today,” Izzo said. “I mean, in a lot of ways. It wasn’t just hitting a 3. Some of those rebounds he got. Some of the defensive stops, guarding guards. … He proved what I believe about Coen Carr: that as that shot keeps coming, he’s gonna be a special player.”

As much as any dunk or defensive stop, Carr’s rebounds secured possessions that kept Oregon from mounting a comeback.

“That’s one thing that they want me to do is go in there and rebound like an animal,” Carr said.  “So when I go in and do that, I get extra opportunities for my team.”

The offense cooled after the run, but Michigan State’s defensive play didn’t wane. After going nearly six minutes without a bucket during the Spartans’ run, Oregon went 3:32 without a field goal right after. Bittle broke the slump with a jumper, part of a 22-point performance that led the game. And though Shelstad found his groove in the final five minutes, Oregon never drew within eight points down the stretch.

Michigan State is heading back to Ford Field this season.

Announced Wednesday morning, the university will move its final regular-season game against Maryland to the home of the NFL’s Detroit Lions. The game remains scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 29, with a start time to be announced.

“Playing at Ford Field is an exciting opportunity for Spartan football,” Michigan State athletics director Alan Haller said in a release circulated by MSU Athletics. “The 2023 game proved that this can be a successful and enjoyable venture. I heard from fans, donors, students, and media, all of whom universally raved about their experience at Ford Field. We witnessed what the Detroit Lions experience every game, that Ford Field can be a tremendous home field advantage. Our student-athletes dream of playing in the NFL and to have the opportunity to play in that stadium is a thrill for them as well.”

Added Lions President and CEO Rod Wood, “We are excited to welcome Michigan State Football back into Ford Field for another Spartan season finale. Thanksgiving and football have been a staple in Detroit for the past 91 years and this year will be a true celebration of the game at every level. It is an honor to connect all levels of the game by kicking off the weekend with the Lions and featuring the Big Ten and MHSAA State Championships throughout an amazing four days of football.”

Two years ago, Michigan State hosted Penn State at Ford Field for its final game of the season — a 42-0 loss attended by 51,927 fans. That loss came under the direction of interim head coach Harlon Barnett, who took over when Mel Tucker was fired by Michigan State amid a sexual harassment scandal. Second-year head coach Jonathan Smith will coach the return trip, the bookend to a season that follows up his 5-7 debut wearing the headset.

“Playing at Ford Field is an exciting way to close out the regular season,” Smith said in a release. “We will have an opportunity to play in one of the best venues in the NFL in front of our fans, which will create a great atmosphere and a home field advantage for our players.”

This year’s game will be Michigan State’s third at Ford Field — in 2010, a game against Florida Atlantic was moved there due to building delays for what is now FAU Stadium. Michigan State won that game, 30-17.

Thanksgiving weekend traditionally sees the Lions host an NFL opponent Thanksgiving Day, followed by Michigan High School Athletic Association state championship games over the weekend. The MHSAA changed its schedule to accommodate the Michigan State game, with games to be played on Friday and Sunday.

“We have strong relationships with both Michigan State and Ford Field, and with moving our traditional Saturday games to Sunday we still have a valuable opportunity to play two days of football indoors,” MHSAA communications director Geoff Kimmerly said.

“We are very thankful for Ford Field and the Detroit Lions, and all their work to host this game,” Haller said. “Beyond that, we’re grateful for our ongoing partnership with the MHSAA and their accommodations in shifting their weekend schedule. Together, we’re able to provide a great four-day weekend of football in a terrific setting.”

Playing at Ford Field is closer for many Michigan State students and fans, including more than 100,000 alumni and students in the Metro Detroit area.

Ticket sale dates will be announced in the future, but there are plans to designate sections of the lower bowl for student seating. Season pass holders will get priority. Spartan fund donors and season ticket holders can purchase tickets based on Spartan Fund priority order. The event is sold as a standalone event.