Things could not have not started any better for Michigan State basketball.
Aaron Henry. Then Joshua Langford. Then Foster Loyer. Then Henry again, Joey Hauser and Rocket Watts.
The Spartans made their first six 3-point attempts, nine of their first 13 shots and went up 11 to stagger No. 8 Iowa in the first 7 1/2 minutes Tuesday.
Then their shots stopped falling. The Hawkeyes took advantage of every miss and every mistake.
[ Michigan State's Rocket Watts remains an enigma, typifies Spartans' struggles ]
But the Spartans maintained their resiliency, keeping pace and taking back the lead in the second half and pulling within a possession in the final 2 minutes before falling, 84-78.