Still tough sledding in Lansing
IU loses at Michigan State for the 23rd time in the last 25 visits
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Malik Hall scored 18 points, Tyson Walker came off the bench to add 15 and No. 17 Michigan State snapped a two-game losing streak Saturday with a 76-61 victory over Indiana.
With the win, the Spartans (18-6, 9-4 Big Ten) are one game behind conference leader No. 13 Illinois.
Trayce Jackson-Davis had 17 points and Race Thompson and Tamar Bates each had 13 for the Hoosiers (16-8, 7-7 Big Ten), who have now lost four of their last six games. Indiana has won only twice in its last 25 visits to Michigan State — in 2013 and 2019.
Michigan State used scrappy defense to take control early in the second half — along with a 13-3 run after falling behind 41-40. The closest Indiana could get the remainder of the game was three points with just over nine minutes left. The Spartans led by as many as 18 points.
The first half was marked by chippy play and poor shooting by both teams, who combined for 20 of 57 from the field. After Indiana tied the game at 29, Michigan State ran off eight of the final nine points to grab a 37-30 halftime lead.
The Hoosiers are struggling this season on the road, where they have lost six of eight games. Indiana still has trips to Wisconsin, Ohio State and Minnesota left on the schedule.
The Spartans’ road to a possible Big Ten title is not easy with six games over 16 days. The span includes going to Penn State, Iowa, Michigan and Ohio State, and home matchups with Illinois and Purdue.
The game marked the return of five Indiana players who were suspended for violation of team curfew prior to Tuesday’s 59-51 loss at Northwestern. Those players were guards Xavier Johnson, Parker Stewart, Khristian Lander and Bates, as well as center Michael Durr.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo is now within one game of tying the Big Ten record for overall wins by a league coach with at least 10 years in the conference. Former Indiana head coach Bob Knight holds the record with 662. Izzo has 661.