The General Takes Command: Michigan State Routs Indiana 81–60
Sometimes the score doesn’t tell the full story.
Other times, the run tells you everything.
Michigan State didn’t just beat Indiana on Tuesday night — they broke them. What was a manageable seven-point game at halftime turned into a statement when the Spartans unleashed a 19–0 second-half run, their longest of the season, and never looked back in an 81–60 demolition at the Breslin Center.
This one was about control. And it belonged entirely to Jeremy Fears Jr.
Jeremy Fears Jr. Runs the Show
This was the most complete game of Fears’ young career — and maybe the clearest example yet of why Michigan State goes as he goes.
- 23 points (game-high)
- 10 assists
- Controlled tempo from tip to horn
Fears wasn’t just scoring — he was orchestrating. When Indiana tried to switch everything, he attacked. When they sagged, he distributed. When the moment called for a knockout punch, he delivered.
Michigan State doesn’t make that 19–0 run without Fears at the wheel.
Izzo has said it before, and nights like this reinforce it:
When the head is good, the body follows.
The Run That Ended It
Indiana tied the game midway through the second half. For about 30 seconds, it felt like this might turn into a grind.
Then the switch flipped.
From roughly the 11-minute mark to the 5-minute mark, Michigan State went on a 19–0 run, turning a tight game into a runaway. Indiana didn’t just miss shots — they were suffocated.
- Five forced turnovers
- Transition buckets
- Second-chance points
- Defensive stops stacking on top of each other
It was vintage Izzo basketball — pressure, pace, and punishment.
Glass, Gas, and Grit
If you want the simplest explanation for how this game swung so violently, look no further than the fundamentals.
- Rebounding: MSU 37, Indiana 19
- Fast break points: MSU 25, Indiana 12
- Points off turnovers: MSU 29, Indiana 7
That’s Michigan State basketball distilled.
Jaxon Kohler was a pillar inside again:
- 16 points
- 10 rebounds
- Continues to shoot over 54% from three on the season — an absurd number for a big
Kohler’s evolution has quietly become one of the most important developments of this team.
The Coen Carr Question
Now, for all Coen Carr has done right this season, I had to take a double-take when I reviewed the stat line.
Let this sink in, Coen Carr played 31 minutes and finished with:
- 6 points
- 4 shots
- 3 rebounds
That’s not what you expect from a player with his athleticism and ceiling.
Now — context matters. Carr did a lot of things that don’t show up in the box score: running lanes, defensive switches, vertical spacing. But it’s still fair to ask:
👉 How does a player that talented touch the ball that little?
He’s too gifted to disappear offensively. This isn’t criticism — it’s curiosity. Michigan State doesn’t need him to score every night, but unlocking him more consistently would raise this team’s ceiling even higher.
It’s something to watch moving forward.
Supporting Cast Did Their Job
Michigan State had four players in double figures, and that balance matters.
- Jaxon Kohler: 16 points, 10 boards
- Jeremy Fears Jr.: 23 points, 10 assists
- Jordan Scott: 11 points (big confidence minutes)
- Kur Teng: 11 points, timely perimeter scoring
Indiana never found a matchup they could exploit once the run started.
Big Picture
Indiana came in capable. Michigan State made sure they left humbled.
The Spartans are now 15–2 overall, 5–1 in the Big Ten, firmly entrenched in the top tier of the conference. This wasn’t about style points — it was about asserting control, and Michigan State did exactly that.
They defended.
They rebounded.
They ran.
And when the moment arrived, they slammed the door.
Stat Capsule 🏀
Game Leaders
- Jeremy Fears Jr.: 23 PTS, 10 AST
- Jaxon Kohler: 16 PTS, 10 REB
Team Control
- Rebounds: MSU 37 – IU 19
- Fast Break Points: MSU 25 – IU 12
- Points Off Turnovers: MSU 29 – IU 7
The Run
- 19–0 MSU run over ~6 minutes in the 2nd half
- Indiana scoreless for nearly 7 minutes
What’s Next
Michigan State heads west to face Washington on Saturday — a different environment, a different test.
But if Jeremy Fears Jr. continues to play at this level, and the Spartans keep defending and owning the glass like this, they’re going to be a problem — anywhere.
So, what impressed you most this game, the 19-0 run, or Jeremy Fears’ double-double? Drop a comment below or join the conversation in the Spartans Sound Off — where fans break down every game, every angle.
Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
