Michigan State University
Indiana
Spartans Fall to Indiana 82-75
1/21/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) The Spartans cut a 20-point second-half deficit to four, but Indiana held on for an 82-75 victory over Michigan State on Saturday.
James Blackmon Jr. matched his career high with 33 points and Robert Johnson added 17 to help Indiana , who won for the fourth time in five games, this time without their best defensive player OG Anunoby (knee).
'I feel like everyone we all covered each other's backs today,'' Blackmon said. ''If someone was in the wrong spot, someone else was picking it up for them.''
When the ball got to Blackmon's hands, though, it seemed he could do no wrong. The Hoosiers' top scorer finished 11 of 16 from the field, 6 of 10 on 3-pointers and had only two turnovers in 36 minutes.
His teammates got the message. Robert Johnson scored 17 points and Thomas Bryant added 11 points and six rebounds as Indiana (14-6, 4-3 Big Ten) snapped a five-game losing streak in the series. The defending Big Ten champs have now won four of five and find themselves back in the title hunt despite another rash of injuries .
Indiana was missing forwards Collin Hartman, who had knee surgery in September and has not yet played this season; OG Anunoby, who is scheduled to have season-ending surgery on his right knee after getting hurt Wednesday at Penn State; and Juwan Morgan, who missed his second straight game with an injured foot.
The Hoosiers didn't miss a beat, almost leading wire to wire.
''I do know this, that sometimes a team when you have an injury, you play better that next game but then sometimes they catch up with you,'' Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. ''That's what Tom has to look out for.''
Eron Harris finished with 21 points and Nick Ward added 15 to lead the Spartans (12-8, 4-3), who made it interesting late.
They just couldn't get in sync because of Blackmon's scoring barrage.
He scored 10 points in an early 14-2 run, helped the Hoosiers extend their lead to 44-30 at halftime and started another 3-point flurry early in the second half that gave Indiana a 59-39 lead with 15:20 left.
Then Harris led the Spartans back. His two free throws with 10:54 to go cut the deficit to 61-51. His 3-pointer with 6:47 remaining made it 67-61. And with 32 seconds left, Harris took another 3 that could have made it a three-point game.
Instead, it was off the mark, Bryant grabbed the rebound and Indiana closed out the win at the free-throw line.
''We've been getting better,'' Crean said. ''We're getting better, and we've got a lot of room to get better.''
BIG PICTURE
Michigan State: Less than two weeks ago, it appeared the Spartans were back on track. But after winning three in a row, Michigan State has lost three of its last four and still needs to find answers to make a run at the conference title.
UP NEXT
Michigan State: Returns home to face Purdue on Tuesday.
