IU basketball’s second half woes continue in loss at Michigan State

Reed Bailey attempts a layup against Michigan State.

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Before Coen Carr eventually landed from a ferocious one-handed dunk, Darian DeVries already motioned for a timeout. The Breslin Center reached a fever pitch as the home Spartans regained a seven-point advantage.

As Michigan State ran to its huddle, the five Hoosiers on the floor slowly made their way back to the far side of the floor. The team that opened the second half with an abundance of energy once again fell flat.

Ten minutes remained on the clock, but it was as if the game was over.

In a way, it was. The Spartans continued their treacherous run, outscoring the Hoosiers 19-0 in a 6:45 span – the once-knotted at 53 contest ended in an 81-60 rout in favor of the hosts.

“It’s been more of a common theme,” Indiana coach Darian DeVries said postgame. “You just can’t allow those types of runs if you’re going to beat a good team.”

But before it slipped away, Indiana gained a bit of control.

For nearly the first 10 minutes of the half, Indiana led the energy on the floor. As it has done all year long, especially on the road, it proved it wouldn’t back down from the challenge.

However, in a deadlock with 11 minutes left on the clock, the Hoosiers crumbled, turning the ball over six times. Floor spacing collapsed and late shot-clock heaves were turned into turnovers, allowing the Spartans to break out quickly.

And as empty possessions mounted, so too did frustration.

Each turnover proved more costly than the last, sending Michigan State racing the other way for easy baskets. The lack of attention to detail late in the game baffled its head coach, particularly from a veteran group expected to steady those moments.

“I thought we had some poor offensive possessions,” DeVries said. “We had some turnovers, maybe a couple of non-quality shots, and that led to their transition, and that’s where the game just flipped.

“That’s disappointing for a veteran group, as we have to be turning the ball over in these types of situations.”

Tuesday night only added to Indiana’s growing list of poor second-half performances over the past month. The half mirrored Saturday’s loss to Nebraska, as the Hoosiers went stagnant offensively and, in turn, disengaged on the defensive end.

Much like the game before it, Michigan State capitalized on Indiana’s recklessness. The Spartans turned 14 Indiana turnovers into 29 points, and another opportunity slipped away late. Indiana has been outscored by a combined 29 points in the second half of its last two games.

The frustration of the losses was evident afterward. One of the team’s captains, Lamar Wilkerson, walked through the postgame handshake line visibly upset, shouldering the blame for the breakdown.

“It’s disappointing,” he said. “We fumbled two of ‘em we should have got.”

Entering the season, DeVries prepared himself and his staff for a team that wouldn’t be the most talented. Indiana would have to pride itself on doing the little things right — scratching and clawing for every win.

Through six conference games, that hasn’t been the case. The Hoosiers continue to make costly mistakes at inopportune times, both at home and on the road.

“We said it from Day 1 — turnovers and defensive rebounding are the biggest factors in winning and losing basketball games,” DeVries said. “And we got beat in both.”

As conference play grinds on, Indiana can no longer afford the same second-half collapses that have defined its recent stretch. A résumé win may still be out there, but it won’t come without internal progress.

“We’ve just got to get better in the locker room as a team,” Wilkerson said. “Build that chemistry so when we face adversity, we come out on top.”

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

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