Game of runs hands IU first loss

After freshman forward Cody Zeller averaged 15.1 points per game prior to Big Ten play, Michigan State University held him scoreless for all but thirty seconds of Wednesday's 80-65 victory against the Hoosiers.

The game, which included a 25-2 Hoosier run and a 20-0 Spartan run, marked the first loss of the season for the Hoosiers (12-1). Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo said he was "not pleased" with the ebbs and flows of the game.

"It was a real high-energy environment," sophomore guard Victor Oladipo said. "It's a good lesson learned for us, especially to come into an environment like this and because there are going to be environments like this in the future."

After falling behind 34-16 early, senior guard Matt Roth and junior forward Christian Watford combined for three 3-pointers in a row to spark a 13-2 run to end the half. That run turned into a 25-2 run after halftime to put the Hoosiers on top 54-45 with just more than 11 minutes left.

"Our defense was really good, and then we kind of lost focus," Izzo said. "A couple of my freshmen went a little brain-dead when Roth came in. Give Indiana credit. They made some big shots and bounced back and came back."

From then on, the Spartans (12-2) slowed the IU offensive attack and sophomore guard Keith Appling ended the game with 25 points and shot 9-for-10 from the free-throw line.

Appling's Hoosier counterpart, junior guard Jordan Hulls, shot 2-for-10 from the field, including four fruitless attempts at a 3-point basket. However, Watford said the difference in the second half was on the defensive end.

"We just didn't get enough defensive stops," Watford said. "It led to some easy buckets for them, and once they got rolling, it was hard to stop them."

Watford led IU with 26 points and became the 43rd Hoosier to score 1,000 points for his career.

"He's well-deserving of it," Oladipo said. "He works really hard, and we're proud of him for it. We didn't get a win today, but it's a big leap for him."

Zeller, the leading scorer during IU's season prior to Wednesday, was held scoreless until he scored four points early in the second half to give IU the lead. He didn't score for the remainder of the game.

"He'll make adjustments," IU coach Tom Crean said. "He made some in the second half. We made some, but it just didn't turn out to be a great game for him, but he is a quick learner, so I have no doubt that he will continue to get better."

IU returns to Bloomington to face Ohio State on Saturday, and Crean said communication on defense will be the key.

"You can prepare all you want," Crean said. "You can prepare for two, three days. You can prepare for all these different plays, but when the bullets are flying in those games, you've got to be ready at the drop of a hat, and that's where the reminders and the communication amongst teammates comes in."