At the Buzzer: Michigan State 77, Indiana 64

Lamar Wilkerson drives against Michigan State.

Quick thoughts on a 77-64 loss to Michigan State:

How it happened

It was another disastrous defensive performance for Indiana in the first half against Michigan State on Sunday afternoon. The Spartans lit up the Hoosiers for 45 points on 58.3 percent shooting, including a 7-for-13 mark on 3-pointers. Kur Teng did the most damage from the perimeter for Michigan State as the sophomore came off the bench and shot 4-for-5 from distance. Michigan State scored 1.4 points per possession in the opening 20 minutes. Offensively, Indiana scored a respectable 1.15 points per possession but was just 6-for-20 on 3s. Tucker DeVries led the way with 13 points and Lamar Wilkerson added 10.

Michigan State pushed the lead back to double figures three times early in the second half, once to 12 and twice to 11, before a Lamar Wilkerson 3-pointer got the Hoosiers within six at 54-48 with 13:41 left. Teng, however, answered immediately, making it 57-48 in favor of the Spartans. The Hoosiers trailed 57-50 at the under-12 media timeout after a DeVries bucket. Indiana got within five two times, but Michigan State hit 3s to answer both times and stretched the lead back to 10 at 65-55 with 9:51 remaining, forcing a timeout by Darian DeVries. The Hoosiers burned another timeout after a Fears Jr. layup made it 69-57 with 8:20 left. Both teams then went on prolonged scoring droughts and Michigan State maintained its double-digit lead at 72-62 at the final media timeout.

Michigan State’s scoring drought surpassed five minutes, but Indiana couldn’t cut into the lead. The Hoosiers trailed 72-64 as an out-of-bounds play was challenged with 1:44 remaining. The Spartans retained possession and then ended their scoring drought with a Fears Jr. to put the game out of reach with 1:25 to play. The loss, Indiana’s 10th in conference play, was the program’s fourth straight and the NCAA tournament is now a long shot.

Standout performers

Wilkerson finished with 29 points on 11-for-21 shooting in 39 minutes and DeVries added 20 points on 6-for-16 shooting in 40 minutes.

Statistics that stand out

The Spartans shot 12-for-24 on 3s, scored 1.28 points per possession and never trailed. Michigan State had nine offensive rebounds in the second half and scored 12 second-chance points in the final 20 minutes.