Indiana men’s basketball wrapped up its regular season against Michigan State on Sunday. The Hoosiers hung on for a tight 65-64 win that came down to the buzzer to finish their season with an 18-13 record including 10-10 in Big Ten play.
Indiana started the game scorching. It screamed out to a 20-5 lead in the first seven minutes of play, knocking down four of its first five 3-pointers in the process.
Right after the Hoosiers took their 20-5 lead, senior guard Trey Galloway exited the game after playing through some sort of discomfort. Team physician Larry Rink attended to Galloway, who entered the locker room but eventually returned to the bench. However, he never re-entered the game.
Michigan State slowly but surely crept its way back into the contest. Trailing by as many as 17 points in the first half, a basket right before the halftime buzzer cut the Spartans’ deficit to 5.
Indiana’s first-half effort resulted from a three-headed monster. Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako, sophomore center Kel’el Ware and sophomore forward Malik Reneau combined for 29 of Indiana’s 34 first-half points.
Cold shooting and turnovers contributed to the Hoosiers’ slip in the first frame. After starting the game 8-for-14, Indiana finished the half 5-for-17 from the field. They committed nine turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
Early success from the 3-point line to start the second half gave Michigan State its first lead of the game with 17:19 to play. The Spartans’ first four field goals of the period came from beyond the arc after making three the entire first half. Graduate student guard Tyson Walker and junior guard Jaden Akins each made two during the run.
Ware took over for the Hoosiers and single-handedly attempted to keep Michigan State within range. He scored all but 2 of Indiana’s second-half points through the first 11 minutes of the frame.
On the opposite end, Walker was the main scoring threat for the Spartans. He was held scoreless until Galloway’s exit from the game but then erupted for 30 points, 20 of them in the second half.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Mgbako and sixth-year senior guard Xavier Johnson gave Indiana a 56-55 lead with eight minutes remaining. Johnson’s basket was the first time someone other than Mgbako, Ware, or Reneau scored since Galloway did so at the 15:10 mark of the first half.
After back-and-forth exchanges, Michigan State free throws tied the game at 62 all with 2:10 left. Ware scored on the other end and got fouled but missed the free throw to give Indiana a 2-point lead, but Walker responded to force another tie.
Tied at 64 with 17 seconds remaining, Ware was fouled on a layup and earned two free throws. He missed the first but made the second.
Walker missed a floater with four seconds left and after a few tips near the rim, Johnson secured the ball and dribbled down the court to expire the clock, ensuring a 65-64 Indiana win.
Follow reporters Will Foley (@foles24) and Matt Press (@MattPress23) and columnist Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
