Iowa took charge at Breslin Center on Tuesday night, seizing a 16-point lead in the second half. Despite the Spartans’ efforts, they couldn’t overturn the deficit, resulting in a 78-71 loss for MSU.
MSU (17-10, 9-7 Big Ten) shot 10-for-20 from beyond the arc but only 17-for-40 inside, including eight missed layups and several close-range jumpers. Iowa’s strong interior play led to a 40-28 scoring edge in the paint and capitalized on eight Spartan turnovers for 14 points.
“They absolutely killed every one of our post guys,” MSU coach Tom Izzo said. ”
I have to come up with something better on that. We haven’t had that happen. And it was just layup after layup. … The number of layups missed and the number of layups they got was the difference in the game.”
“And there was just an energy level that wasn’t there. We haven’t had many games where we just flat-out didn’t bring it. Tonight, we flat out didn’t bring it.”
Tyson Walker netted 16 points for MSU, shooting 6-for-16, including two of seven from 2-point range and four 3-pointers. Malik Hall contributed 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting, securing 10 rebounds and dishing out five assists. A.J. Hoggard scored all 15 of his points in the second half, going 6-for-12 from the field and tallying five assists.
The Spartans, now with five losses in their last six matchups against the Hawkeyes, will face Ohio State in their sole encounter this season at 4 p.m. Sunday (CBS).
Payton Sandfort led Iowa with 22 points and six rebounds, while Ben Krikke showcased dominance inside, recording 18 points and 14 boards. Patrick McCaffery contributed 14 points for the Hawkeyes, who shot 50.9% overall and converted 24 of 42 shots inside the 3-point arc.
Iowa Dominates The Paint In Victory Over MSU
Iowa executed a clear strategy from the start: exploit MSU’s interior defense, resulting in a commanding 12-point halftime lead.
Early foul trouble sidelined starting forward Mady Sissoko for the majority of the first half, followed by Carson Cooper’s quick fouls, limiting his playing time.
Despite MSU’s initial lead and effective 3-point shooting, Iowa capitalized on their absence, embarking on a 15-1 run. Patrick McCaffery led the charge, dominating inside with 12 points by halftime, showcasing Iowa’s interior strength.
The Hawkeyes extended their dominance with a 16-4 scoring advantage in the paint, highlighted by Patrick McCaffery’s steal and dunk to cap off a 10-0 run.
Adding to their offensive prowess, Iowa drained three of their four first-half 3-pointers in the final 5:14, with Payton Sandfort sinking two and Pryce Sandfort adding one, pushing the Spartans into a 45-33 deficit at halftime.
Reflecting on Iowa’s pivotal run, A.J. Hoggard pointed to defensive lapses:
“The defense… That team scored 15 points, and we couldn’t put the ball in the basket. I think we were getting some shots that we usually make. They didn’t drop tonight. But I think we didn’t rely on our defense as how we have been over the last couple of games.”
“I mean, the last game (at Michigan), the last seven minutes, we didn’t allow a basket. But we allowed 15 points in a short span of time, so I didn’t think we were just there defensively tonight.”
Meanwhile, MSU managed a 7-for-14 performance from beyond the arc, with Tyson Walker contributing three of those triples for all nine of his points. However, Walker struggled inside the arc, going 0-for-3 on such attempts and finishing 3-for-8 overall.
A.J. Hoggard faced difficulties, missing a couple of layups and going scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting at halftime. Jaden Akins struggled from deep, hitting just one of his four attempts and missing his only 2-point shot.
In the first half, the Spartans shot 37.9% overall but struggled inside the 3-point arc, going just 4-for-15. Iowa capitalized on five MSU turnovers, converting them into nine points by halftime. Ben Krikke led Iowa with 11 points and nine rebounds, while Payton Sandfort contributed 10 points. Iowa shot an impressive 57.1% overall and went 4-for-9 from beyond the arc.
MSU Mounts Second-Half Comeback Attempt Against Iowa
Michigan State University’s (MSU) strategy in the second half against Iowa was evident: focus on attacking inside to narrow the point gap. Hoggard took charge, driving into the paint for four consecutive layups within the first 5 minutes and 31 seconds, displaying precision and consistency.
Meanwhile, Hall contributed with two additional baskets inside, showcasing MSU’s determination to penetrate Iowa’s defense.
Walker and Akins contributed with crucial 3-pointers, narrowing the deficit. Layups by Hall and Walker further closed the gap, bringing MSU within 62-56 with 7 minutes and 10 seconds remaining.
However, MSU faced difficulties in executing plays near the basket, leading to missed opportunities and turnovers. Iowa capitalized on these struggles, extending their lead to 70-59 with just over 4 minutes left.
Yet, the Spartans rallied, relying on their defense to make critical stops. Walker’s assist to Holloman for a back-cut and Hoggard’s pass to Hall for a dunk, following a shot-clock violation forced by MSU, showcased their resilience.
With 2 minutes and 31 seconds remaining, MSU’s coach Tom Izzo called a timeout.
Despite their efforts, the Spartans continued to grapple with persistent issues. Their momentum faltered further when Cooper mishandled a pass from Hall, resulting in a turnover with 1 minute and 40 seconds remaining.
Shortly after, Owen Freeman’s dunk extinguished any hope of a comeback, sealing MSU’s second Big Ten home loss and third overall defeat at Breslin this season.
