Indiana Downs Michigan State 82-69 for Third-Straight Victory

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Indiana Downs Michigan State 82-69 for Third-Straight Victory

1/22/2023 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana was built for this -- tough-minded defense, frontcourt and backcourt offensive versatility, a refusal to lose.

Case in point -- Sunday's 82-69 come-from-behind victory over Michigan State, a third straight impressive win that evened IU's Big Ten record at 4-4. It's 13-6 overall.

Contributions came from those you'd expect (senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis) and maybe those you wouldn't (guards Trey Galloway and Tamar Bates) in such a high-profile game.

"This team was put together for that reason," coach Mike Woodson said. "Everybody had to play a role.

"We've had ups and downs in terms of guys stepping up. The last three games, everybody who played had a major role. It's not just Trayce driving the car. The supporting cast has done its job."

Consider the earlier glitches -- three straight Big Ten defeats, blowout losses to Arizona and Kansas -- as learning-curve necessities in building a team, and then overcoming the loss of two starters (forward Race Thompson, point guard Xavier Johnson).

The Hoosiers certainly have.

"When everything is clicking," Jackson-Davis said, "we're a tough team and hard to beat.

"We finally got acclimated to a new unit after losing Race and X. We're playing for each other. Guys are stepping up. We have to keep rolling."

With starting point guard Jalen Hood-Schifino banged up early in the game, Woodson rode the hot-shooting combination of Galloway and Bates, and was rewarded in spectacular fashion (8-for-9 three-point shooting).

Galloway started and totaled 17 points and three assists.

Bates came off the bench for 17 points and three rebounds.

"It's all about trust," Woodson said. "Tamar had been struggling. He stepped up and played. Gallo has been solid. He plays hard. He does all the intangible things.

"Jalen took a big blow. He was hobbling around, so I rode those guys."

Preparation started last summer, with Galloway and Bates running the second unit against Johnson and Hood-Schifino.

"Gallo and Tamar had a lot of duties," Woodson said. "They were matched up against X and Jalen, and had to be players.

"We worked on a lot of ball handling drills to make them comfortable when they played for real. The work they put in led to the trust."

Added Galloway: "It's hard to go against X and Jalen every day. It made me better. Getting that experience helped, and it showed today."

Adding to Bates' big day, his daughter, Leilani, won the halftime baby race competition in come-from-behind fashion.

"It was a comeback win," Bates said with a smile. "We'll take it. It's her first competition ever. She's undefeated."

Jackson-Davis continued his dominating play with 31 points (his second straight 30-point game), 15 rebounds, five blocks and four assists. He is tied with Jeff Newton for the IU career block record. They both have 227.

"You're looking at a complete player," Woodson said. "For four years, he's done it at a high level."

Michigan State rocked IU early with a 10-0 run. The Hoosiers rocked back with a 21-4 run.

Game on, and then over.

"We're staying locked in," Bates said. "We focus in on every opponent. Stick to what's working. It starts with defense. Control what we can control. Do what we do best, and live with the results."

Competitive ferocity on both sides produced a double technical foul and several chippy moments.

"It's competition," Woodson said. "Anytime you play a (Michigan State coach Tom Izzo) team, they push you to play hard. If you don't, you lose. Our guys matched their energy."

Thompson was back after missing the four previous games with a leg injury. He played four off-the-bench minutes as IU works to get him back in form.

Galloway made early impact with a pair of three-pointers for an 8-7 IU lead. Michigan State responded with that 10-0 run to go ahead 17-8.

IIU picked up its defense. A Malik Reneau steal led to a Hood-Schifino layup. Bates motioned freshman guard CJ Gunn into the right offensive position, and the result was a pair of Gunn free throws. Jackson-Davis scored off a Reneau assist. A long Galloway pass produced a Jackson-Davis dunk. A pair of Bates free throws completed the 10-0 run for a 26-25 Hoosier lead.

The Hoosiers kept surging en route to a 21-4 run and a 37-29 edge. The Spartans scored the final three points of the half for a 37-32 score. Jackson-Davis had 13 points and six rebounds. Bates had eight points.

Michigan State scored the first five points of the second half. Indiana forward Jordan Geronimo countered with a three-pointer. The Spartans countered back with seven straight points -- broken up by double-technical fouls on Spartan forward Joey Hauser and Geronimo -- to take a 44-42 lead with 16 minutes left.

Galloway ended that run with his third three-pointer, and then a pair of free throws. IU built a pair of eight-point leads, one via a Miller Kopp dunk, got it to nine on a Jackson-Davis free throw, to 12 on a Bates three-pointer, and then to 15.

The Spartans were finished.

Next up -- a Wednesday game at Minnesota (7-11, 1-7), and another chance to stay within range of Big Ten leader Purdue (7-1).

"They're not quitters," Woodson said about his Hoosiers. "They are playing for something. The Big Ten title is still out there. They have to stay competitive and humble."