BLOOMINGTON — IU extended its winning streak to three Sundays with an impressive 82-69 win over Michigan State. Here are three reasons why:
Slow start, Trayce answer
The swollen offense led to some pronounced first-half droughts and allowed Michigan State (13-7, 5-4) to extend a 25-16 first-half lead. Jalen Hood-Schifino and Trayce Jackson-Davis couldn’t find their range and movement around them slowed as a result.
It wouldn’t last long because Indiana’s best player wouldn’t let it. Jackson-Davis woke up from a 0-of-4 start to dominate the final 10-12 minutes. He attacked doubles teams, misplaced the ball for teammates and gave Tom Izzo’s covers fits.
IU was “somewhat dead in the water”.Then Trayce Jackson-Davis called a players-only meeting.
Jackson-Davis finished the first half with 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks, establishing a past not dissimilar to his dominant midweek showing in an Illinois win.
Behind their star, the Hoosiers (13-6, 4-4) recovered nine-five at the break. Jackson-Davis finished the game with 31 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks and four assists.
3s dialed in
Michigan State didn’t make the mistakes Illinois made, the Spartans doubling down on Jackson-Davis early and pretty much every time he touched the ball near the post.
Indiana responded with some of its most efficient attacks on those holdings, shoving corpses into shooting pockets and giving its All-American Big Man passing opportunities. He wasn’t as efficient as he was in Champaign when he scored 35 points on 19 field goal attempts. But he still managed his share of assists, and the Hoosiers were offended by that from behind the arc.
Trey Galloway and Tamar Bates benefited particularly. They combined for 34 points and eight made 3s, their off-ball movement and the added attention of Jackson-Davis gave them a significant role in Sunday’s game.
As the Spartans were careful not to be single-handedly beaten by Jackson-Davis, these contributions proved crucial.
Free throws end it
They haven’t been the strength that Mike Woodson would like them to be this season. At the start of Sunday’s game, the Hoosiers ranked outside the top 250 nationally in terms of the strip’s team percentage.
Keeping your nerve as the points broke made the final difference in the game. Indiana has even outperformed Michigan State at the free-throw line and has generally been more consistent in hitting their shots there. Spartan runs ended in missed free throws or were answered with makes by IU. Jackson-Davis closed the game with two loud alley-oop dunks to finish with 31 points, but free throws provided the platform to close with that momentum.
It hasn’t always been a strength this season either, but it was important for 40 minutes on Sunday.
Follow IndyStar reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.
Indiana 82, Michigan St. 69
MICHIGAN ST. (13-7): Hauser 6-12 9-12 22, Sissoko 1-3 2-4 4, Akins 6-8 0-0 15, Hoggard 2-8 7-10 11, Walker 4-7 0-0 8, Kohler 4-8 1-2 9, Brooks 0-5 0-0 0, Holloman 0-2 0-0 0, Cooper 0-0 0-0 0, Whitens 0-0 0-0 0. Overall 23-53 19-28 69.
INDIANA (13-6): Geronimo 2-5 0-0 5, Jackson-Davis 10-20 11-13 31, Kopp 1-3 0-0 2, Galloway 5-8 4-4 17, Hood-Schifino 1-6 0-0 2, Bates 5-8 2-2 17, Reneau 2-4 2-2 6, Gunn 0-1 2-3 2, Thompson 0-0 0-0 0. Overall 26-55 21-24 82.
Halftime – Indiana 37-32. 3-point goals_Michigan St. 4:14 (Akins 3:4, Hauser 1:3, Hoggard 0:2, Walker 0:2, Brooks 0:3), Indiana 9:15 (Bates 5:6, Galloway 3: 3). , Geronimo 1:1, Gunn 0:1, Kopp 0:1, Hood-Schifino 0:3). Fouled_Geronimo, Reneau. Rebounds_Michigan St. 26 (Hauser, Kohler 6), Indiana 31 (Jackson-Davis 15). Assists_Michigan St. 6 (Hoggard, Walker 2), Indiana 13 (Jackson-Davis 4). Total fouls_Michigan St. 20, Indiana 21.
