Indiana pulls out Senior Day Squeaker over Michigan State

By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

             The Indiana Hoosiers squeaked out a win on Senior Day against the Michigan State Spartans 65-64 on Sunday Afternoon in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers finish the Regular Season 18-13 overall and 10-10 in the Big Ten. Michigan State finishes with the same record 18-13 overall and 10-10 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers head into the Big Ten Tournament in Minneapolis on a four-game winning streak.

           Kel’el Ware led the Hoosiers with 28 points and 12 rebounds for his 14th double-double of the season. the 7-0 Sophomore hit the game winning free throw with 17 seconds left to seal the win after Tyson Walker missed a jumper with four seconds left and Xavier Johnson got the rebound and dribbled it out to give the Hoosiers their 12th home win of the year as they go 12-5 at home this season. Malik Reneau finished with 16 points and Mackenize Mgbako added 13 points. Freshman Gabe Cupps played 21 minutes, 3 assists, a rebound and a steal. The Hoosiers finished the game 27-57 from the field for 47%, 6-17 from three-point range for 35% and 5-12 from the free throw line for 41%. The Hoosiers had 40 points in the paint, 10 points off turnovers and 3 bench points.

           After the game four seniors were honored sixth year senior Xavier Johnson played 29 minutes off the bench and had 3 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block and 4 turnovers. Graduate Transfer Anthony Walker who played against Indiana a season ago in the second round of the NCAA Tournament for Miami (Florida) pulled down a rebound in 4 minutes of action. Seniors Trey Galloway and Anthony Leal went through Senior Day ceremonies and announced that they are coming back for their fifth and final due to the extra year of eligibility athletes were given in the 2020-21 season during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Galloway was injured late in the first half and did not return after limping off the floor and did not warm up and returned for the second half. Galloway played 7 minutes and score 5 points and pulled down 3 rebounds. Bloomington South Graduate Anthony Leal played 28 minutes off the bench with 3 assists and 2 rebounds.

         Michigan State was led by Tyson Walker who scored 30 points and 20 of those coming in the second half. Walker was 7-14 from the field, 3-6 from three-point range and 3-3 from the free throw line. In the first half Walker was 4-7 from the field, 1-2 from three-point range and 1-1 from the free throw line. Jaden Akins and A.J. Hoogard added 10 points apiece. Michigan State finished 25-65 from the field for 38%, 8-25 from three-point range and 6-7 from the free throw line. Michigan State pulled down 33 rebounds, dished out 15 assists, 12 steals, no blocks and committed 12 turnovers. The Spartans scored 22 points in the paint, 17 points off turnovers and 7 bench points.

         The Hoosiers jumped out to 6-0 lead on three pointers by Galloway and Mgbako. Michigan State got on the board with a Hoogard Three as the Hoosiers went on another 6-0 run to lead 12-3 with 15:10 left in the first half. The Hoosiers led throughout the entire first half leading 30-19 with 3:55 left in the first half. Michigan State made a 10-4 to close out the first half as Indiana led 34-29 at halftime as the Spartans closed the half on an 8-0 run in the last 1:23.

         Michigan State took the lead with 18:01 left when Jaden Akins hit a three pointer to give the Spartans the lead 36-35. Michigan State went on a 5-0 run and led 43-36 with 15:23 left. Indiana went on a 6-0 run to cut the Spartan lead to 1 point 43-42 with 14:07 left. The Spartans maintained the lead until the 7:58 mark when Xavier Johnson drilled a three pointer to put the Hoosiers up one 56-55. The game was tight the rest of the way the largest lead as Indiana led by three 60-57 with 5:33 left. Michigan State tied the game 60-60 with 2:56 left as Carson Cooper hit a free throw. Malik Reneau scored on a jumper with 2:37 left to make it 62-60 IU. Tyson Walker hit two free throws to tie the game 62-62 with 2:10 left. Indiana retook the lead with Kel’el Ware with a layup with 1:55 left to give the Hoosiers 64-62 lead. Tyson Walker put the Spartans on his back with a driving layup to tie the game with 1:28 left. Ware was fouled by Malik Hall with 17.8 seconds left when he missed the first free throw and hit the second to put the Hoosiers up 65-64 as Walker missed a shot at the end and Johnson got the rebound and celebrated with Hoosier Nation to give Indiana a .500 record. in conference play and third winning season in Head Coach Mike Woodson’s three seasons at his alma mater.

            As a tradition that is has been going on for 50 years that started with Bob Knight the head coach and the Seniors address the crowd after the game. Mike Woodson thanked the “True Fans” and let them know that “I’m the Coach Here”. Woodson talked about each of his seniors and saved Xavier Johnson for last. He told Johnson “I saved you for last because you put up with more shit from me, I’ve got so much respect for you, so much respect. Because the true fans understand all that other shit they don’t understand.”

          Both Leal and Galloway defended Woodson in their senior day speeches. “There is no other coach in the country that I would trust, with anything in my life, than coach Woodson, and there is no other university that I’d want to represent” Leal said. “Were gonna to run it back. But you guys gotta chill” Leal’s message to the fans. Galloway added “I will be back next year. Let’s do it”. Before the Minnesota game It was announced that Mike Woodson would return for next season, but he said in the Press Conference “There shouldn’t be anything floating around my job, I have done my job”. The Hoosiers now focus on the Big Ten Tournament where they will have to win four games in four days to get the automatic bid to NCAA Tournament.