“`html
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Malik Renea delivered a strong performance, scoring 16 of his 19 points in the second half, leading Indiana to a narrow 71-67 victory over No. 11 Michigan State on Tuesday night. The win puts coach Tom Izzo on the verge of surpassing Bob Knight’s record for most Big Ten victories.
Indiana, whose current record stands at 15-10 with 6-8 in the Big Ten, had experienced a disappointing stretch under coach Mike Woodson, with five consecutive losses heading into this game before he concludes his tenure at the end of the season.
Michigan State, now holding a record of 19-5 and 10-3 in their conference, has struggled recently, having lost three of their last four outings. Izzo’s current total of 353 Big Ten wins ties him with Knight, who achieved his legendary status at Indiana while securing three NCAA championships.
In the match, Michigan State’s Jaden Akins contributed 14 points, while Jase Richardson added 13 points. Myles Rice also played a key role for the Hoosiers, scoring 10 points, which included two free throws with only 30 seconds remaining, extending Indiana’s lead to four points. Oumar Ballo was another significant contributor for Indiana with 14 points, and Luke Goode aided the effort with 10 points.
**Takeaways**
*Indiana*: The Hoosiers began the season as favorites to finish in second place in the Big Ten and were previously ranked as high as No. 14 in the AP Top 25. They showcased their potential in this game by overcoming a double-digit deficit early on, securing a lead by halftime, and maintaining that advantage throughout the second half.
*Michigan State*: The team struggled with interior defense, which resulted in them allowing 38 points in the paint. The situation was exacerbated when Jaxon Kohler was called for his third foul early in the second half, limiting his playtime to just 18 minutes against an offensively potent Indiana squad.
**Key Moment**
Mackenzie Mgbako’s two free throws with just 9.4 seconds on the clock were crucial, putting the Hoosiers up by three points.
**Key Stat**
Michigan State’s shooting woes were evident; they finished with an overall shooting percentage of just 38.2%, and their performance from beyond the arc was even poorer, making only 4 of 23 attempts from three-point range.
**Up Next**
Michigan State is set to face off against Illinois on Saturday night, while Indiana will host UCLA on Friday night.
“`
