Historic win for Izzo, Michigan State in thrashing Iowa

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo surpassed legendary coach Jud Heathcote in games coached at Michigan State Tuesday night. To celebrate the occasion, Izzo's squad slapped an equally historic beatdown on the Hawkeyes.

No. 6 Michigan State (15-2, 4-0 Big Ten) blasted Iowa (10-8, 2-3) in every conceivable fashion 95-61 at Breslin Center, the largest margin of victory for the Spartans in the series' 118-game history.

"I didn't think Iowa played as well as they'd seemed on film and on the other side, I thought we played about as well as we could have in the first half," Izzo said.

Michigan State's 34-point victory could have been much worse for Iowa. The Spartans led 90-45 at one point before inserting their reserves. It was Michigan State's 17th straight win against Iowa at the Breslin Center dating to 1993, and the last 13 have come by an average of 19.4 points.

"I think the key for us here would have been to get off to a better start," Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said. "Once they jumped to a lead, they're at home, they've got a lead, they're comfortable shooting 3s, they're comfortable in the post ... They're a team that averages four 3s a game, and they made six in the first half."

"Obviously it's a tough place to play. It always has been for a lot of teams," Iowa senior Matt Gatens said. "It helps on the road to get off to a good start. But we didn't. You've got to not panic. You've got to battle back. We weren't able to do that."

Iowa's perimeter defense was about as effective as France's Maginot Line in World War II. When Iowa's interior defense was in the right position, the Spartans simply went around it. Michigan State drilled six 3-pointers and built a 24-point lead.

"When we were doubling the post, our rotations were kind of slow," Iowa point guard Devyn Marble said. "That was the big thing, so we gave them a lot of wide-open 3s."

After Iowa had sliced an early 15-point deficit to eight points, the Spartans unleashed a 16-0 run that effectively ended the game.

Iowa had 14 first-half turnovers, which outnumbered its baskets (10) and rebounds (13). Michigan State scored 20 points off those turnovers. Michigan State played with more poise in the first half, collecting 15 assists for 19 baskets in a 59.4 percent shooting performance.

The Hawkeyes were completely flustered in the second half. Michigan State outscored Iowa 29-7 over a span lasting 10:20. The Spartans physically guarded Iowa on offense and with 10:55 left in the game, McCaffery exploded for a technical, his fifth technical this season. He said afterward his anger was directed "equally" at his team and the officials.

"I wanted them (his players) to get the defenders off them," McCaffery said.

As for Izzo, he coached his 561st game at Michigan State, one better than Heathcote. Izzo laughed afterward and suggested Heathcote would call him with a sarcastic comment.

"It just means you've survived," Izzo said.

IOWA (10-8)

Basabe 5-10 0-1 10, Marble 4-15 2-3 12, Gatens 4-9 1-2 11, McCabe 2-7 3-3 7, May 1-2 0-1 2, Olaseni 0-0 0-0 0, Oglesby 1-6 0-0 2, Brommer 0-0 0-0 0, Cartwright 1-5 0-0 2, White 5-7 5-9 15, Stubbs 0-0 0-0 0, Archie 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-63 11-19 61.

MICHIGAN ST. (15-2)

Payne 1-2 1-2 3, Appling 6-11 2-2 15, Dawson 3-7 0-0 6, Green 9-12 1-2 22, Wood 5-7 1-1 12, Gauna 2-3 0-0 4, Kearney 2-2 0-0 5, Thornton 2-3 2-2 8, Chapman 0-0 0-0 0, Wetzel 0-0 0-0 0, Trice 3-4 2-2 10, Nix 4-6 2-4 10, Sweeny 0-2 0-0 0, Wollenman 0-0 0-0 0, Ianni 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 37-60 11-15 95.

Halftime_Michigan St. 46-24. 3-Point Goals_Iowa 4-14 (Marble 2-3, Gatens 2-5, White 0-1, McCabe 0-1, Oglesby 0-4), Michigan St. 10-18 (Green 3-4, Thornton 2-3, Trice 2-3, Kearney 1-1, Wood 1-3, Appling 1-3, Sweeny 0-1). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Iowa 33 (Marble 8), Michigan St. 37 (Green 9). Assists_Iowa 12 (Cartwright 5), Michigan St. 25 (Appling 9). Total Fouls_Iowa 15, Michigan St. 17. Technicals_Iowa Bench, Nix. A_14,797.

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