Hoosiers Fall to MSU

Feb. 8, 2003

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - In an overtime standoff with Big Ten rival Michigan State on Saturday night, the Hoosiers looked to snap a four-game losing skid but were unable to find the win. After 40 minutes of play, the Spartans and Hoosiers were locked at 56 points and headed into an extra stanza. Michigan State outscored the Hoosiers 11-6 in the overtime to get the 67-62 win. The Spartans improve to 13-8 on the season and 5-4 in conference action. IU falls to 14-8, 4-5 in the Big Ten.

The highlight of the season came from senior Jeff Newton. The Atlanta, Ga. native became the 38th member of Indiana's prestigious 1,000 career points club with his 24-point effort against the Spartans. Newton now has 1,011 career points and ranks 36th on the all-time scoring list, three points ahead of former teammate Jared Jeffries.

Earlier this season, Tom Coverdale broke the 1,000-point plateau. This is the first time since the 1993-94 season that teammates have hit the mark in the same season. That year, Alan Henderson and Brian Evans earned their way into the record books together. It is also the eighth time in school history that two players have hit the mark in the same season.

Newton played all but three minutes of the game, scoring his team-leading 24 points. Freshman Bracey Wright added 20 of his own, his first 20 points or more performance since he sat out four games (from Jan. 15 - Jan. 25) with a pinched nerve in his back. It is the first time since Dec. 31, 2003 that Wright has hit more than three baskets from beyond the arc as he hit four of nine attempts Saturday evening.

It is Wright's 17th double-digit scoring game of his career. He has scored ten or more points in all but one of his 18 games this season.

"This is the hardest we have played in three weeks," said Wright. "After the Northwestern game, we talked about everything we needed to talk about. We came out here and fought. I didn't expect us to just come out and be dominant because we have been terrible the last three weeks. Everything is not going to change in one game. We are going to be alright."

The loss ends Indiana's home-game winning streak at 10 games. Prior to Saturday, the last time the Hoosiers lost on McCracken Court was Feb. 13, 2002 against Wisconsin.

The Hoosiers continue with the Michigan theme, hosting the Wolverines on Wed., Feb. 12. Tipoff is set for 7:07 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN Plus Local as well as ESPN2.

Indiana University Athletics

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Tom Coverdale

Tom Coverdale

Tom Coverdale

Tom Coverdale

Jeff Newton

Jeff Newton

Jeff Newton

Jeff Newton

Bracey Wright

Bracey Wright

Bracey Wright

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