HoosierIllustrated Live Blog: FINAL: Rutgers 66, Indiana basketball 57

Indiana basketball hits the road for a Big Ten Conference matchup at Rutgers as the program carries on during its 124th season of competition in men’s basketball. The Hoosiers are coming off a very important win over Ohio State to improve to 3-1 in the Big Ten.

The Scarlet Knights (8-6, 0-3) have three players averaging at least 10 points per game in senior forward Aundre Hyatt (11.9 points per game), senior center Clifford Omoruyi (10.7), and senior forward Mawot Mag (10.3). The game will feature two of the six players in the Big Ten that collect at least 8.5 rebounds per game. Omoruyi pulls down 8.9 rebounds per outing for Rutgers, the fourth-highest figure in the B1G. Sophomore center Kel’el Ware is fifth at 8.8 boards per night.

Scouting Notes: Rutgers

Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Peacock

Below is the full, live running blog.

Indiana Injury Report

Guard Xavier Johnson and forward Malik Reneau as questionable. This is the second straight game both have been questionable.

Pregame Notes:

Listed as questionable, Indiana star Malik Reneau is dressed and warming up. pic.twitter.com/xOP7REdSLB

— Brian Fonseca (@briannnnf) January 9, 2024

Indiana Starters:

C- Kel’el Ware

F- Malik Reneau

F- Mackenzie Mgbako

G- Trey Galloway

G- Xavier Johnson

First Half

Indiana wins the tip and we are off. Malik Reneau gets an easy layup to start.

Mgbako misses his first three attempt.

Reneau travel gets Indiana basketball’s first turnover.

Mgbako picks up his first foul quickly in the first half.

Three turnovers for Indiana basketball right now. Very sloppy on both ends.

Mgbako connects on a three. Follows it up with a steal which leads to a transition bucket for Galloway.

Reneau post up leads to find an open Ware for an easy dunk.

Very sloppy to start the game from both teams. Both with 4 turnovers. Hoosiers on a 7-0 run right now.

Under-16 Media timeout: Indiana basketball 9, Rutgers 7.

Illegal screen called on Kel’el Ware out of the break. 5 turnovers for the Hoosiers. Unacceptable.

Rutgers gets two offensive rebound which finally got them a bucket.

Reneau got a tough and wild bucket plus the foul. He missed the free throw.

CJ Gunn picking up where he left off vs Ohio State. Hit a confident three off a Galloway long pass.

Under-12 Media timeout: Indiana basketball 14, Rutgers 9. Hoosiers on a 12-2 run. 

Ware with a bucket out of the break. Cupps in for Xavier Johnson.

Travel called on Reneau. Hoosiers now have 6 turnovers.

Kaleb Banks in for Galloway.

Reneau drive leads to a Kel’el Ware slam.

Man, it's been real fun watching the chemistry between Kel'el Ware and Malik Reneau grow throughout the season. Such a versatile front court that plays so well off one another. #iubb

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) January 10, 2024

Anthony Walker finds a Cupps for a smooth backdoor cut.

Ware gets fouled. Walker did a good job of finding him. Ware went 0-2 at the line, however.

Under-8 Media timeout: Indiana basketball 20, Rutgers 17

Sparks in for Ware.

Mike Woodson calls timeout at the 20-19 mark. Rutgers on a 6-0 run.

Indiana on a 5:29 scoring drought.

Hoosiers lead 20-19 with 3:35 left in the first half.

Galloway lob to Ware ends a near 6:30 scoring drought for Indiana basketball.

Rutgers takes the lead 23-22 but Mgbako answers with a three.

Xavier Johnson gets the steal and leads to a Galloway one-handed slam.

Timeout Rutgers with 27.7 left in the half. Tied at 27.

Xavier Johnson turnover. Trying to do way too much tonight. Gabe Cupps checks in.

Rutgers nails a deep three at the buzzer to head into the half.

At the half: Rutgers 30, Indiana basketball 27

– 11 turnovers, nearly all mental mistakes … 12 pts off TOs for RU
– 9 off rebounds, luckily on 4 second chance pts
– Malik Reneau’s development as a passer is tremendous
– Lack of mental toughness is concerning and a consistent theme for IU

Half: Rutgers 30, #iubb 27. pic.twitter.com/AaukToU5x8

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) January 10, 2024

Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway in the first half: 4 points | 2-8 FG , 0-4 3pt | 1 rebound | 4 assists | 5 turnovers

The inconsistency of this backcourt is an absolute killer to this team. #iubb

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) January 10, 2024

Second half

Indiana basketball ball to start the half. Ware misses a shot.

Rutgers extends the lead to 33-27.

Ware gets fouled. He goes 1-2 at the line.

Xavier Johnson hits a floater for his first points of the game.

Rutgers three extends the lead to 36-30.

Johnson steal which leads to Mgbako getting fouled.

Rutgers leads 36-30 with 14:51 to play. 

Mgbako goes 1-2 at the line.

Good pass from Mgbako leads to an And1 from Reneau. 5 passes led to the ball in the post. Need more of that. Reneau misses the free throw.

Offensive foul called on Rutgers.

In a crazy twist, Xavier Johnson was ejected from the game due to hitting Antwone Woolfolk below the belt. His night is done.

Under-12 media timeout: Rutgers 39, Indiana basketball 38. 

Anthony leal checks in.

Galloway fouled. He goes 0-2 at the line.

Rutgers extends the lead to 45-38. Time Mike Woodson.

Indiana basketball in a zone defense.

Gunn misses back-to-back threes.

Rutgers leads 51-38 with 5:51 left.

Timeout Mike Woodson. Rutgers up 53-40 with 4:32 left.

Mgbako hits a three to cut the lead to 10.

Galloway fast break cuts the lead to 8.

Ware three cuts the lead to 54-48.

Mgbako missed a layup then had a real boneheaded intentional foul.

Reman would hit a three to cut the lead to 60-54. 25 seconds left.

Rutgers goes onto win. Awful, awful loss for Indiana basketball.

Indiana basketball drops to 11-5 and 3-2 in the Big Ten.

Final: Rutgers 66, Indiana basketball 57

Final Box Score + Extended Stats

SEE ALSO: Indiana Basketball Game Preview: Rutgers – key storylines, injury report, how to watch

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