Tuesday night’s meeting between Michigan State and Indiana at the Breslin Center carried an enormous weight for the greater East Lansing community, as it was the men’s basketball team’s first home game since an on-campus shooting left three dead and five others wounded. With the community still reeling, the Spartans delivered a performance that, for at least a couple of hours, brought some bright moments to people in their time of need.
Michigan State knocked off the No. 17 Hoosiers, 80–65, for its first win since the shooting. Players and coaches from both teams donned shirts that read “Spartan Strong,” which has become the rallying cry for the university in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The Spartans led by seven at halftime and kept the Hoosiers at arm’s length for most of the second half. Tyson Walker led all scorers with 23 points on 8-for-15 shooting, while A.J. Hoggard added 22 points and a team-high five assists.
