Second Half Run Buries Hoosiers 81-60

Written by: TJ Inman

The Michigan State Spartans used a 19-0 second half run to turn a tie game into a runaway victory over the Indiana Hoosiers (12-5) at the Breslin Center. #12 MSU (15-2) got 19 points from guard Jeremy Fears in the first half to overcome an early seven-point deficit and take a 39-32 lead into the locker room. Indiana struggled to take care of the ball, turning it over 8 times in the first 20 minutes and as is always the case against Tom Izzo’s squad, turnovers can kill you. Michigan State turned those giveaways into 19 points. Given the shooting woes for the Hoosiers, the turnovers and five different players with two fouls apiece, IU was fortunate to be down only seven.

The visitors began the second half with a triple from Lamar Wilkerson and slowly worked the lead down to one point on a nice pass to Reed Bailey from Tucker DeVries. IU tied the game at 51 and again at 53 points as Lamar Wilkerson hammered home a dunk on a fast break and it appeared Indiana might be able to hang around all night but that was the final answer IU had. As the second half neared the midway point, the Michigan State Spartans erupted for a 19-0 run. IU finally scored again with 4:32 remaining but trailed 72-55 and the contest was effectively over. Michigan State finished off the 81-60 win as the Hoosiers continued to struggle to shoot the ball on the road.

Indiana was led by Lamar Wilkerson’s 19 points but the Hoosiers were nowhere near good enough in the second half and have some searching to do if they are to be competitive during the rest of their schedule. Michigan State finished with 29 points off of IU’s 14 turnovers and they dominated the points in the paint 32-22 while beating IU by 18 on the glass. Jeremy Fears finished with 23 points to lead the home team and he was joined by three other Spartans in double-figures. Indiana will have to find some answers very quickly as they face a pair of must-win games next against Iowa and Rutgers.