On a night full of emotion in East Lansing, Indiana wasn’t up to the challenge.
The Hoosiers did get off to a great start and led 22-13 with under seven minutes remaining in the first half. But that’s when the script flipped, and MSU outscored Indiana 67-43 the rest of the way.
Let’s take a deeper look at how the Hoosiers lost 80-65 with another edition of The Report Card.
Indiana (19-9, 10-7) will next face Purdue in West Lafayette on Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. ET.
OFFENSE (C+)
Indiana scored 17 points in the first 7:17 of the game. But then they got sloppy, and committed turnovers on three straight possessions. That led to a prolonged drought that allowed Michigan State to rally and take a halftime lead. IU only scored 12 points over the last 12:43 of the half.
Turnovers were an especially big issue for Trayce Jackson-Davis. His seven giveaways were the most of his IU career.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo said before the game he was going to throw a little bit of everything at Jackson-Davis, and he followed through on that.
“We went through three our four different coverages, changed them up during the game, changed them up at halftime, made a few adjustments on that cross-court pass,” Izzo said after the game.
Jackson-Davis was limited to 13 field goal attempts on the night. Seven of Indiana’s nine losses have come when he’s had 13 or fewer field goal attempts.
Indiana shooting splits — 48 percent overall, 36 percent from three, 75 percent from the line — were good if not great. But 13 turnovers, worse shooting in the second half, and a lack of offensive rebounding ultimately did in the Hoosiers.
IU scored right at one point per possession. They typically win when they’re over one, but not on a night when their defense stunk up the joint.
DEFENSE (D)
Indiana’s defense was really good for the first 14 minutes, as MSU scored just 13 points over that span to open the game. But when Jalen Hood-Schifino went down with two first half fouls, IU imploded on the defensive end.
Michigan State scored 67 points over the last 26 minutes. For the first time since a three game losing streak in January, Indiana allowed an opponent to hit the 80-point mark.
Some of the same challenges that plagued IU in those previous losses resurfaced on Tuesday.
Michigan State was able to get downhill off the bounce, they hit the offensive glass, and they caught fire from beyond the arc.
The Spartans started the game 1-of-7 from three but made 9-of-14 to close out the game. It was the first time since the loss at Penn State that IU gave up double-digit threes.
Trey Galloway said Indiana wasn’t in the right positions defensively, with some over helping and not completely closing out.
Woodson said they weren’t cohesive.
“Our connections defensively weren’t right,” Woodson said. “We were a step slow.
“Our defense was non-existent. We didn’t control the ball, something we’ve been pretty good at. I thought their guards had their way against our guards.”
IU allowed 10 offensive rebounds, and MSU scored 13 points off second chance points.
“The games we lose, we don’t rebound,” Woodson said.
Indiana also didn’t have the rim protection it has enjoyed for much of the season. Whether he’s fatigued, injured, or something else, Jackson-Davis had no blocks in a game for just the third time this season, and the first time against a high major opponent. MSU did a good job of pulling him out of the paint, and he didn’t appear to have much lift on the floor when he contested shots in the paint.
Michigan State scored 1.23 points per possession, the third most allowed by IU this season after the Arizona and Penn State losses.
MORE GAME COVERAGE
- Bench woes cost Indiana at Michigan State
- Watch: Mike Woodson and Trey Galloway discuss loss at Michigan State
- IU basketball: Michigan State 80 Indiana 65 — Three keys | Highlights | Final stats
- Long form highlights:
THE PLAYERS
Trayce Jackson-Davis (C) When Jackson-Davis has as many turnovers as rebounds, you know he’s had a rough night. But a lack of blocked shots and some missed shots he typically makes could signal he is wearing down, or perhaps his lower back issue has resurfaced. Whatever the case, this was not the dominant Trayce Jackson-Davis we’ve come to know lately.
Race Thompson (C) How can a power forward play 24 minutes and have just one rebound? Thompson hasn’t been a key contributor on the glass since he returned from a knee injury. He had some good moments including a second half steal that gave IU a spark, but Thompson wasn’t a major factor.
Miller Kopp (C) He made a couple threes but still isn’t getting up nearly enough attempts when Jackson-Davis is double-teamed. He also fouled out in this one.
Jalen Hood-Schifino (B) Hood-Schifino’s absence to finish the first half changed the game. He cut back on turnovers in this one. He made 6-of-8 from 2-point range. Other than an 0-of-5 night from three and some missed opportunities as a facilitator, this was a pretty solid night on the road for a freshman point guard.
Trey Galloway (B-) Galloway was solid on the offensive end. He made 3-of-5 from three and played 32 minutes without a turnover. But he lost track of Tyson Walker multiple times on defense and that led to Michigan State’s late first half run.
Tamar Bates (F) Another road game, another rough night. Bates’ offensive presence is barely felt when he is in games right now. Defensively, there’s a drop-off when he comes in.
Malik Reneau (D) This game was a step back for Reneau, as he reverted to bad habits of fouling too much and turning it over.
Jordan Geronimo (D) It appeared Indiana liked Geronimo as a defender on Malik Hall when he came off the bench. But he fouled and wasn’t otherwise productive.
Kaleb Banks (C) With Kopp in foul trouble Banks was thrown into the fire, and he had a couple nice defensive possessions.
Anthony Leal and C.J. Gunn appeared in the game briefly.
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In total, Indiana had 11 scholarship players healthy and available. Logan Duncomb was out after having sinus surgery, and Xavier Johnson (foot) remains unavailable.
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