HoosierIllustrated Live Blog: FINAL: Nebraska 86, Indiana basketball 70

Indiana basketball jumps back into Big Ten play in its 124th season of competition in men’s basketball on the road against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Hoosiers come in 2-0 in the Big Ten.

Nebraska (10-2, 1-1) has three players averaging north of 13.0 points per game in junior guard Brice Williams (13.7), junior forward Juwan Gary (13.3), and junior forward Rienk Mast (13.0). Senior guard Keisei Tominaga scores 12.7 points per game. Mast leads the team with 9.9 rebounds a night but has not played since Dec. 17 against Kansas State.

Nebraska is led by fifth-year head coach Fred Hoiberg, who is one of three coaches in the Big Ten to have played in the NBA. He joins Indiana head coach Mike Woodson and Michigan’s Juwan Howard.

Tip off is scheduled for 9:00 ET on BTN.

Below is the full running live blog.

Indiana Injury Report

Xavier Johns, Kel’el Ware, and Payton Sparks were listed as ‘questionable.’

Per Jeff Goodman, Xavier Johnson and Kel’el Ware are expected to return for Indiana basketball tonight.

Pregame Notes:

Per multiple reports, Xavier Johnson is warming up.

Nebraska big man Rienk Mast is expected to play tonight. Adds major size and depth to the Nebraska front court.

Mike Woodson confirms that Xavier Johnson will be back in the starting lineup tonight.

Indiana starters:

G – Xavier Johnson

G – Trey Galloway

F – Mackenzie Mgbako

F – Malik Reneau

C – Kel’el Ware

First Half

Indiana wins the tip and we are off.

Buddy ball shows up first. High-low action from Reneau to Ware to get on the board first. Nebraska answers with a bucket.

Ware starts 2-2 from the field.

Mgbako nails his first three of the game.

Kel’el Ware starts the game 3-3 from the field. Welcome back, big fella.

Mackenzie Mgabko picks up his first foul.

Gabe Cupps in for Xavier Johnson.

Hoosiers up to three turnovers.

Mgabko has two fouls in the first 4:39. Not a good thing offensively for Indiana.

Under-16 Media Timeout: Indiana basketball 9, Nebraska 9. 

Kaleb Banks in for Mgbako.

Indiana on a 2:21 scoring drought with 6 turnovers. 9 of Nebraska points shave come off turnovers.

Under-12 media timeout: Nebraska 18, Indiana basketball 13

Very surprised how little Indiana is getting Malik Reneau involved. Has not attempted a shot yet, however, Indiana’s guards not doing a great job of getting the ball to him.

Nice give-and-go action with Johnson to Anthony Walker.

Kel’el Ware in for Reneau.

Xavier Johnson picks up his first foul.

Indiana going with a Johnson, Galloway, and Leal backcourt for this next run.

Huge three point bucket plus the foul from Anthony Leal! Game was getting away from Indiana but the senior guard continues to take advantage of these opportunities.

Nebraska leads Indiana basketball 30-24 with 7:06 left in the half. 

Leal missed the free throw out of the break.

Malik Reneau picks up his second foul.

Mgbako comes back in the floor. Indiana needs some offense.

Last media timeout of the half: Nebraska 34, Indiana basketball 28

Kel’el Ware has honestly kept Indiana in this one. Just making tough shots.

Mike Woodson timeout with 1:11 left. Hoosiers down 10.

At the half: Nebraska 41, Indiana 33

– 9 TOs for 14 Nebraska points + 8 transition pts
– NU is +84 in FTs this year — was a huge point of emphasis and IU failed that category
– Had to prioritize CJ Wilcher on the wing …
– Mixed bag for XJ as expected
– Hoosiers need to wake up

Half: Nebraska 41, #iubb 33. pic.twitter.com/dvplcgzdGT

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) January 4, 2024

Second Half

Nebraska ball to start the half.

Nebraska pushes the lead up to 13 and Mike Woodson calls a timeout. Indiana turns the ball over right out of the timeout. Up to 11 turnovers.

Reneau three gets Indiana first points of the half.

Ware goes 1-1 at the line but Nebraska turns it over on the rebound attempt. Mgbako finds Ware for the easy lob.

Under-16 media timeout: Nebraska 53, Indiana basketball 41. 

Under 16 TO: NEB 53 IU 41

Indiana Hoosiers not named Kel'el Ware are shooting 33.3% from the floor. IU needs someone else to step up. #iubb

— Drew Rosenberg (@drew_rosenberg2) January 4, 2024

Gabe Cupps hits a corner three out of the break.

Flagrant foul called on Kel’el Ware. It was determined to be a Flagrant 1 foul.

Reneau three cuts the lead down to 8. Nebraska responded with a three.

Media timeout at the 11:41 mark. Nebraska 58, Indiana basketball 47

CJ Gunn checks in for the first time this game.

Nebraska leads 64-51 with 8:23 left.

Under-8 media timeout: Nebraska 67, Indiana 53

Nebraska up 20 now. Hoosiers have ran out of gas.

Last media timeout: Nebraska 83, Indiana basketball 64

Nebraska would go onto win 86-70.

Hoosiers fall to 10-4 on the season 2-1 in the Big Ten.

Final Box Score + Extended Stats

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