EAST LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Notre Dame jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first seven minutes of the game as Michigan State started off cold playing in Indiana. The Fighting Irish controlled the rest of the game keeping the Spartans at a distance in the 70-52 win.

A.J. Hoggard led MSU with 15 points while Tyson Walker and Joey Hauser each added 12 points. Mady Sissoko led the team with eight rebounds. MSU shot just 38 percent making just four three pointers (33 percent) and but was 6-of-6 at the foul line. ND had a hot first half shooting 55 percent from the floor and 61 percent (8-of-13) from the arc finishing making 50 percent overall and 42 percent from the three-point line.

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In the first seven minutes of the game, MSU made only one basket but was within six points, 10-4, with 13:09 to go. ND had a 15-point lead, 26-11, with 8:32 left and by the4:33 mark the Fighting Irish were up by 23, 39-16. With 36 seconds left in half, a dunk by Mady Sissoko cut the lead to 16 points, 40-24, before the Irish made a bucket just before the buzzer for an 18-point lead at the half.

MSU cut the lead to 15, 47-32, on a Walker jumper with 16:07 left. By the 9:19 mark, MSU had the lead down to 14 points on a Sissoko layup, 54-40. Just three minutes later, MSU had a 9-0 run for a 23-point lead, 63-40. MSU could get no closer than 18 points in the final six minutes.

MSU will start Big Ten play on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. hosting Northwestern in the Breslin Center.