EAST LANSING, Mich. – Indiana State saw its 10-game winning streak come to an end on Saturday afternoon as the Sycamores fell in a tough test at Michigan State, 87-75, inside the Breslin Center.
 
The Sycamores (11-2) fell for just the second time in the 2023-24 season in the rematch of the 1979 NCAA Championship Game despite Isaiah Swope's 26-point effort that included a game-high six three-pointers. The junior guard was 9-of-18 from the floor and 6-of-13 in leading the ISU offensive charge in the effort. Ryan Conwell added 16 points, while Jayson Kent had 12 points over 21 minutes as the Sycamores battled through foul trouble throughout the contest in the loss.
 
Michigan State (8-5) closed out the 2023 calendar year with the win as the Spartans improved to 2-0 all-time against ISU. Tyson Walker led four MSU players in double-digits with 22 points, including a 10-of-10 mark from the free throw line, while Malik Hall (18), A.J. Hoggard (17), and Jaden Akins (13) were all in double figures. Overall, the Spartans show 23-of-27 from the free throw line, including 16-of-19 in the second half to secure the nonconference win.
 
The teams battled through three early ties over the first 5:12 of the game with Robbie Avila hitting a three-pointer to knot the game up at 8-8. From there, Michigan State took control of the first half going up nine points at the 9:11 mark as Tyson Walker's three-pointer put the Spartans ahead 26-17.
 
The Sycamores kept the game within two possessions throughout the final minutes of the opening half with Swope connecting on a three-pointer at the 2:59 mark to make it a 39-34 MSU lead. The Spartans closed out the half with the final five points as Hoggard made a pair of free throws and Walker converted a late three-pointer to make it a 44-34 game at the halftime break.
 
The Michigan State lead hit 11 early in the second half as Hoggard made a layup and converted the and-one free throw attempt to put the score at 47-36. Conwell took over for the Sycamores from there going on a personal 8-3 run to cut the game down to 49-44 before Kent converted an offensive rebound for a layup to cut the deficit down to three points with 16:15 to play.
 
Swope tied the game up on the next Indiana State possession with a three-pointer as the ISU offense continued to roll early in the second half. Swope scored seven consecutive points for the Sycamores from the 12:14 to the 10:38 mark to give Indiana State the 64-59 lead. The Spartans rattled off seven consecutive points capped by a second Hoggard jumper in the paint and and-one to swing the lead back to Michigan State at 66-64 with 8:31 to play.
 
A layup by Kent at the 8:16 mark tied the game up for the final time at 66-66, before Malik Hall gave the Spartans the lead for good with a three-pointer with eight minutes remaining. Michigan State took control of the game inside the paint the rest of the way scoring 10 points inside the paint over the final 6:51 and the Spartans went 7-of-8 from the free throw line down the stretch in pulling away for the win.

News & Notes

• Isaiah Swope's 26 points marks the third time this season he scored 25+ points. Swope's six triples is the most he's knocked down all season for the Sycamores.
• Jayson Kent finished in double figures with 12 points, his 12th game this season finishing in double figures out of ISU's 13 games. Ryan Conwell has scored in double figures in 10 of the 12 games he's played in. Isaiah Swope has recorded double figures in 11 of the 12 games he has played.
• The Sycamores as a team made 14 three-pointers, good for a 40% clip, which ties for the second-most Indiana State has made this season (16 against Rice in the Ball Dawgs Classic).
• Michigan State made 23-of-27 free throws, tying for the most against ISU this season. MSU tied Alabama, who also made 23-of-27 in their victory.
• The Sycamores committed the second-most fouls this season as a team with 22 fouls, just behind the 24 fouls committed against Alabama.
• This game marked the first matchup since the 1979 National Championship game, when the Spartans and Sycamores squared off in Salt Lake City, Utah. 
  Michigan State won the game 75-64.

Postgame Press Conference with Coach Josh Schertz Presented by Team Green Law


Up Next
The Sycamores return to Missouri Valley play for the remainder of the season, beginning on January 3 at home versus Evansville with a 7 p.m. tip.

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