Michigan State Vs. Indiana: Spartans Top Hoosiers 80-65
The Michigan State Spartans opened up their Big Ten schedule with a home win against the previously undefeated Indiana Hoosiers. Keith Appling led the way for the Spartans with 25 points.
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The Michigan St. Spartans became the first team this season to sink the Indiana Hoosiers, thanks to a 21-0 second half run that helped give Michigan St. a 79-65 win on Wednesday night in East Lansing in the Big Ten opener for both teams.
The Spartans, who have now won 11 straight, were led by the backcourt starting duo of Keith Appling (25 points) and Brandon Wood (13 points).
Michigan St. led the entire first half, but Indiana started the second half on a 12-0 run to take a 41-36 lead. But the Spartans did that run even better, holding the Spartans scoreless for more than six minutes during a 21-0 run in which the Hoosiers turned the ball over five times.
With the win, Michigan St. improves to 12-2 and 10-0 at home. The Hoosiers fall to 12-1 overall and 2-1 on the road.
The Spartans hit the road for a date with the 8-4 Nebraska Cornhuskers on Saturday. Nebraska lost its conference opener 64-40 on Tuesday night. Saturday's game is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m. eastern time.
Winners of 11 straight games coming into tonight, the Spartans are arguably facing their stiffest test since they dropped the first two games of the season to the North Carolina Tar Heels and Duke Blue Devils.
But so far, so good, for the Spartans, who are shooting 55.6 % from the field after one half. Guard Brandon Wood leads Michigan St. with 11 points on 5-7 shooting from the field while Draymond Green has added points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and has hit both of his long-range attempts. Keith Appling has 7 points at the break while backup center Derrick Nix has chipped in with 6 points off the bench for the Spartans.
Michigan St. jumped to a quick 11-4 lead and has not looked back -- in fact, they have led the entire game.
Indiana's perfect 12-0 record is on the line, but they are playing their first road game in almost a month and just the third road game of their season, and so far the results have not been pretty. The Hoosiers are shooting just 40.0 % from the field and have more turnovers (5) than assists (4).
The Michigan State Spartans open their Big Ten schedule with a home against a banged-up Indiana Hoosiers squad. Draymond Green has led the way thus far for the 9-2 Spartans.
