Quick thoughts on a 78-71 loss to Michigan State:
How it happened: It looked like Indiana would drive live at McCracken Court in the Branch on Saturday afternoon. The Spartans could not take care of the ball early and Indiana pushed the ball inside to Trayce Jackson-Davis. At 11:15 of the first half, Indiana led 19-6. But the Hoosiers did not put their foot down and further extended the lead when Michigan State began to rely offensively. At the point of 2:52, the state of Michigan tied the game to an Aaron Henry jumper. Indiana finished the half with the final four points and led 30-26 at halftime, but it felt like the Hoosiers missed an opportunity to get much more breathing space in the locker room. The Hoosiers got clean looks but were only 2-out-10 on 3s in the first half.
To start the second half, Indiana is back to Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson. The duo scored Indiana’s first eight points of the half when IU boosted the lead to nine at 38-29. The state of Michigan quickly returned within five, but Indiana beat it back to 10 with a three-pointer from Armaan Franklin and a setback from Thompson. However, the state of Michigan had an answer. The Spartans ended the lead at four at 48-44 through the under-time media interruption of a triangle by Gabe Brown. The state of Michigan drew 50-49 on a Joshua Langford three-point lead and it drew 52 on a three-point game from Langford with 9:03 to play. The state of Michigan took its first lead on an Aaron Henry runner at 54-52 and extended it to five on a 7:56 Gabe Brown three-pointer. Indiana never regained the lead when the Hoosiers dropped their fifth conference game at home.
Outstanding: Jackson-Davis was unstoppable for Indiana and finished with 34 points and nine rebounds in 37 minutes.
Striking statistics: Indiana’s defense was terrible in the second half, as Michigan State scored 52 points on 56.7 percent of the field. After scoring just .81 points per ride in the first half, the Spartans exploded for 1.49 points per ride in the second half.
Final IU Individual Statistics:
Final tempo-free stats:
Filed To: Michigan State Spartans