EAST LANSING, Mich. (Interstat) — Jeremy Fears scored 23 points and dished out 10 assists, orchestrating a dominant Michigan State performance as the Spartans pulled away from Indiana for an 81-60 victory in a Big Ten men’s basketball game Tuesday night at a sold-out Breslin Center.

A crowd of 14,797 watched the Spartans, fueled by a decisive rebounding edge and efficient offense, improve to 15-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play. The Hoosiers, who entered on a two-game skid, fell to 12-5 and 1-3.

The game’s most important sequence came late in the first half, turning a competitive contest into a commanding Spartan lead. With Indiana trailing by just five at 29-24 after a Lamar Wilkerson three-pointer, Michigan State unleashed a 10-3 run over the final 3:55 before halftime. Fears was the catalyst, drawing a foul on a drive and sinking two free throws, then finding Kur Teng for a three-pointer on the next possession. After an Indiana turnover, Fears fed Teng again for another triple, giving the Spartans a 39-32 cushion at the break.

Michigan State never allowed Indiana to mount a serious challenge in the second half, methodically extending the lead. The Spartans’ control was built on the glass, where they outrebounded Indiana 37-22 and grabbed 10 offensive boards leading to 15 second-chance points. Indiana managed only three offensive rebounds all night.

Fears, a 6-foot-2 guard from Joliet, Illinois, controlled the tempo throughout, adding four rebounds and two steals to his double-double while committing just two turnovers in 33 minutes. His backcourt partner, Jaxon Kohler, provided efficient interior scoring with 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Jordan Scott added 11 points, and Carson Cooper contributed seven points, three assists and two blocks.

Wilkerson led Indiana with 19 points, but needed 18 shots to get there, making seven. Tayton Conerway facilitated the offense with nine assists but was held to five points on 2-of-7 shooting. As a team, the Hoosiers struggled from the floor, shooting 42.9% overall and just 32.3% from three-point range. Their offensive struggles were compounded by 12 turnovers.

Michigan State shot 50.9% from the field and capitalized on frequent trips to the free-throw line, making 19 of 24 attempts. Indiana attempted only 11 free throws, making eight.

The Spartans’ defense was particularly effective in limiting Indiana’s opportunities in transition and contesting shots on the perimeter. The Hoosiers, who average over 80 points per game, were held to a season-low 60 points, nearly 20 below their season average entering the contest.

The victory keeps Michigan State near the top of the expanded Big Ten standings as they head into a challenging road trip. The Spartans will play at Washington on Saturday. Indiana looks to rebound at home against Iowa on Saturday.