EAST LANSING – Michigan State promised toughness, energy and intensity.
The Spartans plenty of it Thursday — from Iowa, in abundance.
And for the second time in a little more than two weeks, the Spartans came out flat and got steamrolled.
Make that two losses now for fourth-ranked MSU, both coming to the No. 16 Hawkeyes. Iowa raced away to a 22-point halftime lead and cruised to a 76-59 victory.
The Hawkeyes followed the same blueprint from their 83-70 win on Dec. 29. Be the aggressor. Early and often.
“They dictated the whole game, and we were just on our heels the whole game,” MSU’s Denzel Valentine said.