Knight record stands as Michigan State can't complete comeback against Indiana

Connor Earegood, The Detroit News on Feb 11, 2025

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EAST LANSING, Mich. — Bob Knight’s Big Ten wins record will live another day.

Against the Indiana team Knight once coached, No. 11 Michigan State (19-5, 10-3 Big Ten) took a narrow 71-67 loss Tuesday night at Breslin Center. The Spartans started strong before losing a double-digit lead late in the first half, clawing back to within a point in the final minute but never drawing back even.

Michigan State came out exactly how it wanted in the first 10 minutes. It controlled the glass, its transition game created offense and its defense held firm. By the midway point of the half, guard Jase Richardson — starting his second-straight game — gave the Spartans a 12-point lead.

But that lead quickly faded. Indiana (15-10, 6-8 Big Ten) shook off 25% shooting through the first 10 minutes and found its rhythm, led inside by center Oumar Ballo. He and the Hoosiers got inside and drew fouls at the rim, including two each from center Szymon Zapala and Jaxon Kohler along with three from center Carson Cooper by the end of the half. Its transition game also hit a pair of 3s by guard Luke Goode. All the while, the Hoosiers forced Michigan State’s offense outside with a zone defense that the Spartans failed to shoot through.

Michigan State’s lead fell to a single point with 3:22 left in the half as a Ballo layup counted off goaltending. A pair of his free throws tied the game and then took the lead with 1:57 to go in the first half. By halftime, Indiana led 32-29.

Ballo and Indiana stretched the lead to 38-29 before Michigan State found its first points of the half 3:30 in, coming from an up-and-under finish from guard Jaden Akins. Fouls continued to pester both teams, as Kohler took his third in the first 38 seconds of the half. Ballo reached three fouls himself in the first five minutes, the last on a charge drawn by Cooper.

Cooper continued to make an impact for Michigan State, hauling in two offensive boards before splitting free throws. But he soon left the game, after an Akins 3, with his fourth foul off a charge of his own.

Against the zone, Michigan State leaned on Richardson and its shooters to beat the coverage, but the shots didn’t fall. The Spartans missed five of their first six 3-pointers until a Richardson make with 7:33 to go. The shot made it a four-point game, with Michigan State still in striking distance. But its offense continued to sputter against the zone, and Indiana found a number of tough finishes at the rim to keep ahead.

Whereas Ballo thrived in the first half, forward Malik Reneau took over in the second frame, scoring 16 of his 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting in the second half. As a team, Indiana shot 63.6% in the second half.

Even as it struggled with the zone, Michigan State all the while stayed in striking distance. With a boost from Cooper once he checked back in, it cut the deficit to 52-50 with 6:17 left after he dove to the ground — with four fouls to his name — to corral a loose ball, drawing a foul and hitting both free throws after a poor 3 for 6 rate to that point in the game. However, that fifth foul came for Cooper in short order as he made contact with Reneau on an and-one.

With 1:47 to play, Michigan State trailed 61-56 after an Indiana shot clock violation. After a quiet outing to that point, guard Tre Holloman hit a mid-range shot that drew the game to a one-shot gap. Indiana aided in making the game close as forward Mackenzie Mgbako and guard Myles Rice missed free throws to give Michigan State a chance. An Akins second-chance lay-up brought the gap to just two points as the Spartans tried to whittle back with fouls. After Reneau split his own free throws, Fidler hit both of his to make it a 65-64 game with 14.7 seconds left.

Mgbako hit two free throws to make it a three-point game. After Holloman hit two free throws to stay within a point, Mgbako stepped out on an inbound. Officials called a foul on point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., however, much to the crowd's dismay. Mgbako sealed the win with two made free throws.

The loss places Michigan State third in the Big Ten, half a game back from Purdue (19-6, 11-3) and a full game back from Michigan (19-5, 11-2).

Michigan State will go on the road to face Illinois at 8 p.m. ET Saturday.

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