Michigan St. @ Indiana preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 2, 2019 ) Michigan St 62, Indiana 63

Ninth-ranked Michigan State tries to stay atop the Big Ten standings when it visits Indiana for a conference contest on Thursday. The Spartans have won nine of 10, including a win over Wisconsin last Friday, while Indiana comes into the game off a road win over Nebraska on Saturday.

The Spartans are hoping to put their last road game - a 29-point loss at Purdue on Jan. 12 - behind them, though this will only be the fourth true road game for coach Tom Izzo's squad this season. Senior guard Cassius Winston leads the way for Michigan State, pacing the team in scoring (18.1 points) and assists (6.1), while junior forward Xavier Tillman has become a solid second scoring threat (13.9 points, 10 rebounds, 2.1 blocks). Freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis has been the Hoosiers' top offensive threat, averaging 14.2 points and 8.2 rebounds while ranking second among freshmen nationally with a 63.4 field-goal percentage. Junior forward Justin Smith (12.2 points) has been hot lately, coming off a 15-point, seven-rebound effort against Nebraska, and he set his career high with 24 points against Michigan State the last time the two teams played in Bloomington.

TIME: 8:30 p.m. ET. TV: Fox Sports 1

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (14-4, 6-1 Big Ten): Izzo's squad has been missing senior guard Joshua Langford, but freshman Rocket Watts may be starting to step into the role of the injured sharpshooter. Watts, who missed four games in December due to a leg injury, has been coming off the bench since his return and is starting to find his shooting stroke. He had 10 points in the loss to Purdue, then scored 11 in 16 minutes off the bench in the win over Wisconsin, including 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point range.

ABOUT INDIANA (14-4, 4-3): The Hoosiers are finally healthy in the backcourt, with Devonte Green, Rob Phinisee, Al Durham and Armaan Franklin all able to play major minutes if called upon. Coach Archie Miller may need all four to cover Winston, who averaged 23 points and 9.0 assists against the Hoosiers in two meetings a season ago. Miller will likely try to rotate as many different players onto Winston as possible in hopes of tiring him out or forcing him into mistakes, since he's averaged seven turnovers over his last two outings.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Entering Wednesday's action, Michigan State leads the nation in assists (19.1 per game) and assist percentage (68.7).

2. Indiana F Joey Brunk will be important against the Spartans, as he's been averaging 9.6 rebounds over his last seven games.

3. The Hoosiers lead the nation in free throws attempted per game (26.1) and are tied for third in free throws made per contest (17.8).

PREDICTION: Michigan State 72, Indiana 67