Jase Richardson doesn’t need to be a starter to make a massive impact as a freshman. But on Saturday, the star and son of former Michigan State standout, Jason Richardson, did enter the starting lineup, and it was a masterpiece performance.

Entering Saturday, Richardson was already the 2nd-leading scorer for the Spartans at 9.3 points in 21.6 minutes off the bench. His efficiency has jumped off the page while shooting better than 52% from the floor and 40% from 3-point range for Tom Izzo’s group.

Facing Oregon, Richardson made his first career start in the backcourt alongside Jaden Akins and Tre Holloman with the Spartans a bit shorthanded in this one. Jeremy Fears Jr. and Xavier Booker were held out due to illness and Akins fought through but was not 100%, Izzo revealed after the game.

Richardson started the game with an impressive first half, drilling all 3 of his field goals in leading MSU with 11 points before the break. However, it did not translate to a lead with the Ducks racing out to a 50-36 lead at halftime.

The 2nd half was a different story with the Spartans holding Oregon to 25% shooting after halftime, including an 0-for-8 effort for the Ducks from beyond the arc. And the catalyst throughout continued to be Richardson.

He dazzled with 18 points in the 2nd half, including a brilliant individual move that put an Oregon defender on skates with a drive to the lane:

He even chipped in defensively with an emphatic rejection at the rim with one of the best weakside blocks you’ll see this weekend.

RELATED: Use our Michigan online sports betting links for all things Spartans as MSU fights for a potential Big Ten title.

Richardson finished the game with a career-high 29 points to go with 5 rebounds, an assist and a block. Making the performance more impressive, the young guard did it all in just 13 shot attempts (9-for-13 from the floor) for an impressively efficient outing in the 86-74 comeback.

Any moment like that is a big one for a young player, but the events surrounding his first career start were especially memorable. His father was in attendance alongside the core of Michigan State’s 2000 national championship team, including Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson and others for the 25th anniversary of that Spartan team.

The father and son shared a special moment afterward with the two Spartans writing different legacies but for the same program — and head coach.

After the game, Izzo reflected on that environment and admitted it had to be particularly meaningful for the elder Richardson watching his son underneath banners that Jason had a role in hanging:

“Jason sitting there with Mateen, and Andre, and Morris… Can you imagine being a dad in that situation and looking up at banners he hung and watching his son?” wondered Izzo. “And as you said, (Jase) didn’t do it in a crazy way, he did it in a very methodical way…

“I think they all know about Jase Richardson, and I think they have all known.”

Izzo also went on to praise the type of individual Jase is on and off the court, saying he feels “fortunate” to get him in East Lansing. As for his time in the starting lineup, Izzo said he’s not sure the team will get 29 points from Richardson in every game but the efficiency jumped off the page.

As for Jase Richardson himself, he admitted starting in front of the 2000 title squad was surreal but felt the biggest story was Izzo tying Bob Knight’s all-time Big Ten victories record. Richardson also said he thanked Izzo for trusting him with the starting spot in the game.

“Coach tying the record, I think that was the biggest thing. I’m so proud of him, just everything he’s done for this program, everything he’s done for this team, I’m just so proud of him,” said Richardson…

“I was just telling him thank you, honestly. Because he could have picked someone else to start tonight. I just thanked him for believing in me and trusting me in this game. And I told him I was just really proud of him and getting this record. Got a lot more games to go.”

In the end, it was a special afternoon for everyone in green and white, and one that both Richardson’s and Izzo will remember for a long time coming.