Saturday, March 2
Bloomington, Ind.
12:00 PM
Indiana University
63
vs
62
Michigan State
Hoosiers Upend #6/8 Michigan State
3/2/2019 2:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio, IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- It was a moment that screamed for defense.
Rob Phinisee delivered.
It was an opportunity that demanded ferocity.
Indiana provided it.
With everything on the line Saturday afternoon at a rocking Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall-- an upset victory over a top-10 team, NCAA tourney hopes, program-turning momentum – Phinisee, IU's freshman guard, went against Michigan State's Cassius Winston, perhaps America's best point guard, and defended him into a rare miss.
That capped a defensive effort that shut out the No. 6 Spartans for the final four minutes and produced a 63-62 victory that sent students storming Branch McCracken court.
"We had to fight and hang in through some ugly times," coach Archie Miller said. "In the last four minutes, we were able to get stops."
The Hoosiers (15-14) overcame a 12-point deficit against the Big Ten co-leaders by out-competing them at their own rebound-and-transition game. They had a 31-30 rebound edge, 15 offensive rebounds and a 15-2 advantage in fast-break points.
"It feels good to watch the guys in terms of their mindset," Miller said. "You've got to play tough and really hard. You have to make some things happen."
IU did for the second time this season against Michigan State (23-6). It's just the third time the Hoosiers have swept the season series since 1990.
Beyond that, they've won consecutive games against ranked teams (No. 19 Wisconsin went down 75-73 in double-overtime last Tuesday) for the first time since ending the 2016 season. That's blasted away the misery from a 1-12 stretch that jeopardized their postseason chances.
"This has given us momentum," forward Justin Smith said. "We're looking to build off it.
"It feels good to win. We want this feeling again. That's what we'll strive for."
Indiana's last four games – all against top-25 teams -- have been decided by two, six, two and one point. Two have gone to overtime.
"It's great attitude by the guys," Miller said. "It's great commitment level. We're dialed in a little bit more. They've gotten away from feeling sorry for themselves, and gotten back to work."
Michigan State had won five straight games, including a 77-70 victory at No. 10 Michigan. It was the Wolverines' only home loss of the season.
The Spartans led for 38 minutes on Saturday.
IU led when it mattered most.
"We just ran out of gas," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "We played well enough to be up by 10 for most of the game.
"Give Indiana credit. They made some big shots. We did a hell of a job in the first half, but they kept running guys at us and we didn't have the bodies to run at them."
Winston almost willed the Spartans to victory. With starters Nick Ward and Joshua Langford out with injuries, he was a do-it-all force of nature (20 points, 11 assists, five rebounds).
With IU clinging to that 63-62 lead, Izzo called a timeout with 8.5 seconds left to set up a chance for Winston -- 8-for-11 from the field -- to win it.
Phinisee was ready.
Several days of intense practice with Miller all over him -- the main message, fight over screens -- and Phinisee's receptiveness to it, was about to pay off.
Phinissee took away the drive and forced Winston into a jumper that had no chance.
"I knew he was going to get the ball and a ball screen was coming," Phinisee said. "I had to fight over it and get in front of him."
Mission accomplished.
"I wasn't surprised," IU guard Devonte Green said. "He's a great defender. He's laterally quick. He's strong. He's not easy to blow by."
Added Miller: "They probably set as many screens for him as any player you're going to guard, so when you're guarding him, you're getting nailed. Rob's on-ball defense was great.
"The last possession was very fitting. The way he guarded in that last situation, it can't get any better."
Hoosier postseason hopes center on this opportunity -- beat Illinois and Rutgers to end the regular season, go deep in the Big Ten tourney, and a NCAA tourney bid might -- might -- still happen. They do, after all, have six Quad One victories, a huge NCAA tourney selection factor.
"Our resume will speak for itself," Miller said. "Control what you can. We have a unique resume. Our strength of schedule is off the charts (No. 4 nationally according to Kenpom.com). We have some big wins. We had a stretch that doesn't look very good. We have to win, period."
And that means, "We can't change who we are. We can't work so hard to (get) out of a hole, have some good things happen, and we change.
"It's how hard we're playing. Can we compete even harder the next game? Everyone is playing for something right now. Everyone has something to prove."
Saturday's thriller led to one big question -- what got into Smith?
The inconsistent sophomore once again morphed into a Michigan State giant killer. He had a career-high 24 points on Saturday as a follow up to last month's 13-point, 10-rebound game in East Lansing. His three three-pointers were one less than his season total.
This was huge for a guy who had played so poorly in the first half against Iowa eight days earlier that he didn't play in the second half. He wasn't going to play against Wisconsin except for an illness to DeRon Davis, then produced 12 points and eight rebounds.
"I'm focusing on preparing in practice," Smith said. "Put myself in a game mindset at practice."
As Miller put it, "Attitude is everything. I mean, that's everything. When your attitude is great and you're focused on doing whatever you can to help, good things happen.
"I think that's where Justin really changed his mindset after Iowa. Today obviously I wasn't going to take him off the floor very much. He had a career day."
Smith tapped into his inner Calbert Cheaney early on. He had three first-half three-pointers and 13 of IU's first 14 points.
Without him, the game might have been over by the second media timeout.
As it was, the Spartans built first-half leads as large as 12 points.
The Hoosiers didn't flinch.
After starting 0-for-13 from the field without Smith's contribution, they finally found offensive balance, mostly from Green (he finished with 13 points) and Romeo Langford (he had nine). They closed within five points a couple of times before ending the half trailing 35-28.
Langford scored the final points of the half by going left -- yes, left -- for a basket against a Michigan State defense geared to prevent him from going to his stronger right side.
The Spartans scored the first four points of the second half to build an 11-point lead. IU countered with six straight points, including two from Smith.
Then IU ratcheted up its defense, unleashed a 9-0 run and closed within 45-44.
Michigan State responded with a 6-0 run.
Hoosier senior forward Juwan Morgan, who had been 0-for-5 from the field, hit a three-pointer. Langford followed with a basket.
Still, Michigan State edged ahead by five.
Green got a steal, delivered an alley-oop pass to Smith for a rim-rattling dunk, then nailed a long three-pointer to counter a Spartan three-pointer. Smith added a free throw.
The lead was down to two.
Langford missed an inside shot. Morgan grabbed the rebound, muscled up a basket, was fouled and made the free throw for a three-point play.
IU led 63-62. The clock ticked toward one minute, then under.
Michigan State got the ball with 30 seconds left. IU had a foul to give, and took it with 8.5 seconds left. Izzo called a timeout.
Winston got the ball with a road victory within sight. Phinisee took it away.
IU had the victory and, perhaps, NCAA tourney opportunity.
"There's no lay-down in them," Miller said about the Hoosiers.
"This was a huge week in terms of earning more confidence and finding a way to play your best at the right time. The thing that has given us confidence all year is how hard we've played.
"It's brought us around to having a chance."
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- It was a moment that screamed for defense.
Rob Phinisee delivered.
It was an opportunity that demanded ferocity.
Indiana provided it.
With everything on the line Saturday afternoon at a rocking Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall-- an upset victory over a top-10 team, NCAA tourney hopes, program-turning momentum – Phinisee, IU's freshman guard, went against Michigan State's Cassius Winston, perhaps America's best point guard, and defended him into a rare miss.
That capped a defensive effort that shut out the No. 6 Spartans for the final four minutes and produced a 63-62 victory that sent students storming Branch McCracken court.
"We had to fight and hang in through some ugly times," coach Archie Miller said. "In the last four minutes, we were able to get stops."
The Hoosiers (15-14) overcame a 12-point deficit against the Big Ten co-leaders by out-competing them at their own rebound-and-transition game. They had a 31-30 rebound edge, 15 offensive rebounds and a 15-2 advantage in fast-break points.
"It feels good to watch the guys in terms of their mindset," Miller said. "You've got to play tough and really hard. You have to make some things happen."
IU did for the second time this season against Michigan State (23-6). It's just the third time the Hoosiers have swept the season series since 1990.
Beyond that, they've won consecutive games against ranked teams (No. 19 Wisconsin went down 75-73 in double-overtime last Tuesday) for the first time since ending the 2016 season. That's blasted away the misery from a 1-12 stretch that jeopardized their postseason chances.
"This has given us momentum," forward Justin Smith said. "We're looking to build off it.
"It feels good to win. We want this feeling again. That's what we'll strive for."
Indiana's last four games – all against top-25 teams -- have been decided by two, six, two and one point. Two have gone to overtime.
"It's great attitude by the guys," Miller said. "It's great commitment level. We're dialed in a little bit more. They've gotten away from feeling sorry for themselves, and gotten back to work."
Michigan State had won five straight games, including a 77-70 victory at No. 10 Michigan. It was the Wolverines' only home loss of the season.
The Spartans led for 38 minutes on Saturday.
IU led when it mattered most.
"We just ran out of gas," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. "We played well enough to be up by 10 for most of the game.
"Give Indiana credit. They made some big shots. We did a hell of a job in the first half, but they kept running guys at us and we didn't have the bodies to run at them."
Winston almost willed the Spartans to victory. With starters Nick Ward and Joshua Langford out with injuries, he was a do-it-all force of nature (20 points, 11 assists, five rebounds).
With IU clinging to that 63-62 lead, Izzo called a timeout with 8.5 seconds left to set up a chance for Winston -- 8-for-11 from the field -- to win it.
Phinisee was ready.
Several days of intense practice with Miller all over him -- the main message, fight over screens -- and Phinisee's receptiveness to it, was about to pay off.
Phinissee took away the drive and forced Winston into a jumper that had no chance.
"I knew he was going to get the ball and a ball screen was coming," Phinisee said. "I had to fight over it and get in front of him."
Mission accomplished.
"I wasn't surprised," IU guard Devonte Green said. "He's a great defender. He's laterally quick. He's strong. He's not easy to blow by."
Added Miller: "They probably set as many screens for him as any player you're going to guard, so when you're guarding him, you're getting nailed. Rob's on-ball defense was great.
"The last possession was very fitting. The way he guarded in that last situation, it can't get any better."
Hoosier postseason hopes center on this opportunity -- beat Illinois and Rutgers to end the regular season, go deep in the Big Ten tourney, and a NCAA tourney bid might -- might -- still happen. They do, after all, have six Quad One victories, a huge NCAA tourney selection factor.
"Our resume will speak for itself," Miller said. "Control what you can. We have a unique resume. Our strength of schedule is off the charts (No. 4 nationally according to Kenpom.com). We have some big wins. We had a stretch that doesn't look very good. We have to win, period."
And that means, "We can't change who we are. We can't work so hard to (get) out of a hole, have some good things happen, and we change.
"It's how hard we're playing. Can we compete even harder the next game? Everyone is playing for something right now. Everyone has something to prove."
Saturday's thriller led to one big question -- what got into Smith?
The inconsistent sophomore once again morphed into a Michigan State giant killer. He had a career-high 24 points on Saturday as a follow up to last month's 13-point, 10-rebound game in East Lansing. His three three-pointers were one less than his season total.
This was huge for a guy who had played so poorly in the first half against Iowa eight days earlier that he didn't play in the second half. He wasn't going to play against Wisconsin except for an illness to DeRon Davis, then produced 12 points and eight rebounds.
"I'm focusing on preparing in practice," Smith said. "Put myself in a game mindset at practice."
As Miller put it, "Attitude is everything. I mean, that's everything. When your attitude is great and you're focused on doing whatever you can to help, good things happen.
"I think that's where Justin really changed his mindset after Iowa. Today obviously I wasn't going to take him off the floor very much. He had a career day."
Smith tapped into his inner Calbert Cheaney early on. He had three first-half three-pointers and 13 of IU's first 14 points.
Without him, the game might have been over by the second media timeout.
As it was, the Spartans built first-half leads as large as 12 points.
The Hoosiers didn't flinch.
After starting 0-for-13 from the field without Smith's contribution, they finally found offensive balance, mostly from Green (he finished with 13 points) and Romeo Langford (he had nine). They closed within five points a couple of times before ending the half trailing 35-28.
Langford scored the final points of the half by going left -- yes, left -- for a basket against a Michigan State defense geared to prevent him from going to his stronger right side.
The Spartans scored the first four points of the second half to build an 11-point lead. IU countered with six straight points, including two from Smith.
Then IU ratcheted up its defense, unleashed a 9-0 run and closed within 45-44.
Michigan State responded with a 6-0 run.
Hoosier senior forward Juwan Morgan, who had been 0-for-5 from the field, hit a three-pointer. Langford followed with a basket.
Still, Michigan State edged ahead by five.
Green got a steal, delivered an alley-oop pass to Smith for a rim-rattling dunk, then nailed a long three-pointer to counter a Spartan three-pointer. Smith added a free throw.
The lead was down to two.
Langford missed an inside shot. Morgan grabbed the rebound, muscled up a basket, was fouled and made the free throw for a three-point play.
IU led 63-62. The clock ticked toward one minute, then under.
Michigan State got the ball with 30 seconds left. IU had a foul to give, and took it with 8.5 seconds left. Izzo called a timeout.
Winston got the ball with a road victory within sight. Phinisee took it away.
IU had the victory and, perhaps, NCAA tourney opportunity.
"There's no lay-down in them," Miller said about the Hoosiers.
"This was a huge week in terms of earning more confidence and finding a way to play your best at the right time. The thing that has given us confidence all year is how hard we've played.
"It's brought us around to having a chance."
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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