IU Falls to MSU, 61-54

January 28, 2003

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- No. 19 Indiana was unable to snap its four game league road losing streak and nine-game Breslin Center skid against Michigan State tonight as the Hoosiers fell to the Spartans, 61-54. The Hoosiers drop to 14-5 overall, 4-3 in Big Ten play as the Spartans extend their record to 11-8 and 3-4 in the conference.

The game was deadlocked at 27 coming out of the locker room after intermission. Midway through the second stanza MSU took a four point lead, 44-40, but IU was able to tie the game for the ninth time and take the lead for the first time since the first bucket of the second half.

The largest lead of the night for either team came with just 22 seconds remaining in the game as Michigan State extended its lead to seven, 61-54. With three minutes left on the clock the Spartans led by five and was able to hold that lead until senior Kyle Hornsby hit a long three pointer cutting the deficit to two, 56-54. Adam Ballinger responded with 37 seconds remaining, scoring his fifth point of the game with a deep trey and giving MSU back its five-point advantage. Alan Anderson secured the Spartan victory with two foul shots.

Freshman Bracey Wright returned to Indiana's starting lineup after missing four games due to a recurring back injury, however, the Hoosiers were without A.J. Moye who has stepped up for Indiana starting in the place of Wright. Wright finished the game with four points.

Jeff Newton, George Leach and Tom Coverdale combined for 41 of Indiana's points. Newton led all scorers with 15 points while pulling down seven rebounds. Leach added 14 and Coverdale recorded 12 for the Hoosiers.

Coverdale's 12 points moves him into the number 34 spot on IU's career points list with 1,047. Coverdale's three three-pointers also moves him into the third place position for career three point field goals with 167.

The Hoosiers are back on the road Saturday, Feb. 1, for a non-conference match up against the University of Louisville. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. and will be televised on CBS.

Indiana University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Tom Coverdale

Tom Coverdale

Tom Coverdale

Tom Coverdale

Kyle Hornsby

Kyle Hornsby

Kyle Hornsby

Kyle Hornsby

George Leach

George Leach

George Leach

George Leach

George Leach

A.J. Moye

A.J. Moye

A.J. Moye

A.J. Moye

Jeff Newton

Jeff Newton

Jeff Newton

Jeff Newton

Bracey Wright

Bracey Wright

Bracey Wright

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