At halftime, the Spartans (4-1 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) lead Indiana (3-2, 1-0), 21-14, with two of the team’s three offensive touchdowns coming in the red zone. Sophomore quarterback Connor Cook led the way with 152 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-23 passing from the field.

The Hoosiers struck first, as running back Tevin Coleman took a handoff by quarterback Nate Sudfield and sprinted 64 yards to the end zone for a touchdown. Coleman’s run was the longest play of the first half, setting the tone for Indiana’s quick-paced offense on a drive that lasted just 61 seconds.

After stalling on the first three offensive drives of the game, the Spartans answered back to open up the second quarter.

A slow and methodical drive down the field was capped by an 11-yard touchdown pass by Cook to junior running back Jeremy Langford. The touchdown reception was the first of Langford’s career, knotting the game up, 7-7.

But Cook wasn’t done yet.

On the next offensive possession, Cook found senior wide receiver Bennie Fowler, who zigged and zagged his way through the Hoosier defense for a 34-yard touchdown reception.

Fowler now has back-to-back games with touchdown receptions longer than 30 yards, as he reeled off a 37-yard touchdown last week against Iowa in a 26-14 victory.

However, the Spartans’ woes on the punt return continued Saturday when sophomore wide receiver Macgarrett Kings Jr., lost a fumble on an Erich Toth punt, setting Indiana’s offense up for another drive on MSU’s 41-yard line.

From there, it took five plays for Indiana quarterback Tre Roberson to find the end zone, locating wide receiver Cody Latimer for a 3-yard strike.

On MSU’s final offensive drive of the half, Cook led a 14-play, 74-yard drive capped by a rushing touchdown by Langford.

Langford ended the first half as MSU’s leading rusher with nine carries for 39 yards and a touchdown, while freshman running back Delton Williams also had five carries for 29 yards in the half.

The Spartans will get the ball to open the second half.