The Spartans were victorious in a game versus the Hoosiers that was full of emotions. This was the first home game for the mens basketball team after the tragic shooting that occurred on Michigan State’s campus.

Michigan State University’s basketball team paid tribute to the victims of a recent shooting by leaving eight seats vacant in “The Izzone.” The gesture was in honor of the eight students who were injured or killed in the mass shooting. Indiana also showed their solidarity by wearing Spartan Strong shirts during warmups. The night was filled with emotion as a moment of silence was held before the national anthem, causing many to struggle to hold back tears.

Uninspired Start by the Spartans

Michigan State started off slow as the Indiana Hoosiers took the lead with a 12-5 score. A.J. Hoggard committed a couple of turnovers, and Tyson Walker had not scored with eight minutes remaining in the first half. But then the magic began as Walker scored four three-pointers and Jaxson Koehler followed with a big bucket and a block of Trayce Jackson-Davis. A 22-9 run brought the Spartans back from a 9-point deficit with just over six minutes left in the first half.

The arena was filled with excitement as the Spartans took a 35-29 lead into halftime with momentum on their side. The second half saw the Spartans continue their strong play with back-to-back three-pointers, and Indiana called a timeout. From that point, the Hoosiers were never able to get within a possession of the Spartans. The Spartans shot 47.6% from three-point range and 47.3% from the field, with a 94.7% free-throw percentage and only 10 turnovers. The Spartans also out-rebounded the Hoosiers, an impressive feat for this team.

Hoggard scored 22 points, while Walker added 23. Koehler had 7 boards (5 offensive) and 4 points, while Mady Sissoko hustled with 3 rebounds. Joey Hauser and Malik Hall both contributed 10 points.

An Emotional Reminder

The emotional night was a reminder of Spartan Nation’s sense of community. While the tragedy cannot be changed, the game was a small step towards learning and growth. The final score was MSU 80, Indiana 65.

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