Spartans bring elite ranking against Hoosiers at Assembly Hall

Tonight’s game against Michigan State marks exactly two months since IU’s 80-65 loss in East Lansing, Mich. The Spartans lead the conference standings heading into the final week of Big Ten play and top four statistical categories in the league.

Michigan State is:
— Allowing a conference-best 56.6 points per game in the Big Ten.
— Shooting a league-best 47.9 percent in conference play.
— Allowing a league-best 37 percent field goal defense.
— Leads the conference in rebounding at 36.8 rebounds a game.

The Dec. 28 matchup between the two teams was the first conference game of the year for both schools. Here is a look at some of the story lines of the first meeting.

— Michigan State guard Keith Appling had 25 points and seven assists. Twenty-five points is five more than he has had in any other conference game this season and his career high. Seven assists are tied for the second most he had in the Big Ten this year.
— Michigan State leading scorer Draymond Green had 11 points and seven rebounds. Eleven points is the fourth fewest he has had in the Big Ten this season. Seven rebounds is the second fewest he has had this year in conference.
— Michigan State forward Derrick Nix had 14 points. Fourteen points is double Nix’s average for the season and still remains his career high.
— Michigan State guard Brandon Wood had 13 points. Wood is averaging just 6.6 points per game in conference, and those 13 points tied for the most he has had in the Big Ten this year.
— Indiana junior forward Christian Watford had 26 points and 10 rebounds. Twenty-six points is the most he has had this season, and the MSU game is one of nine double-doubles he has had in his career.
— Indiana freshman forward Cody Zeller had four points and four fouls in 23 minutes. Four points is the fewest he has had at IU, and 23 minutes is the second fewest he has played all season.