HoosierIllustrated Live Blog: FINAL: Indiana basketball 72, Army 64

Indiana basketball returns to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for the second straight game as the Hoosiers host the Army Black Knights. Indiana is coming off of a hard-fought 69-63 victory over Florida Golf Coast this past Tuesday. The Hoosiers are looking to start 2-0 for the sixth-straight season and the 16th time in the last 17 seasons

The Army Black Knights enter the contest with an 0-2 record after dropping games against Marist (71-55) and Stonehill (57-44) to open the season. Army is 1-9 against Power Five programs in its last 10 matchups — the last win coming against USC in the 2015-16 season.

Tip off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.

Below is the full live blog

Pregame Notes

Indiana Injury Report:

QUESTIONABLE: Payton Sparks and Anthony Walker.

Both Anthony Walker and Payton Sparks are dressed and going through initial warmups.

The Indiana basketball staff are wearing the legendary Bobby Knight red sweaters with an “RMK” patch on them.

Indiana staff rocking the legendary Bobby Knight red sweater with an “RMK” patch.

Hoosiers host Army tonight, who was Knight’s first team he coached. #iubb pic.twitter.com/BfEUE3dCBA

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) November 12, 2023

Recruiting News:

2026 four-star guard DeZhon Hall of Pike High School (IN) will be at the game today as part of an unofficial visit. This is his second time visiting Indiana with his most recent visit coming during Hoosier Hysteria last month.

2026 four-star, in-state guard Dezhon Hall (@HallDezhon) of @PHSBBBall here for Indiana vs Army as part of his unofficial visit. #iubb pic.twitter.com/XRTYG5pIIi

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) November 12, 2023

Indiana starters:

G – Xavier Johnson

G – Trey Galloway

F – Mackenzie Mgbako

F – Malik Reneau

C – Kel’el Ware

First Half

Indiana basketball wins the tip and we are off.

First basket of the night for the Hoosiers was a Xavier Johnson lob to Kel’el Ware. Ware should really take advantage of lack of size that Army has tonight.

Army would take the early lead with a three-pointer.

Indiana already at 3 turnovers through nearly 4 minutes of action.

Xavier Johnson would end the 2:30 scoring drought with a three. Game ties at 5 now. Army forward Charlie Peterson would respond with a three.

Under-16 media timeout: Army 8, Indiana basketball 5. 

Indiana with the ball out of the break. They would turn the ball over for the 4th time. Xavier Johnson would respond and steal then take the ball down the floor and draw a foul.

Gabe Cupps would then come in for Indiana. First player off the bench.

Xavier Johnson would go 2-2 at the line.

CJ Gunn would check in for Mackenzie Mgbako. Going with a three guard lineup of Johnson, Cupps, and Gunn.

Payton Sparks in for Kel’el Ware.

Kaleb Banks and Anthony Walker would check in for Johnson and Reneau. Entire second unit in now. Banks would attack the basket but get called for the charge.

Hoosiers currently on a 2:21 scoring drought. Army on a 3:15 drought.

Under-12 Media Timeout: Indiana basketball 11, Army 11. 

Army would connect with a three out of the break. CJ Gunn would miss a three, but Sparks would get the rebound. Sparks would miss the put back but Banks would get the rebound and be fouled.

The Army lead would extend to 16-11 at the 10:00 mark. It would then extend to 19-11.

Banks would nail a corner three to end the scoring drought for Indiana.

Ware back in for Sparks.

Galloway would give Indiana its 8th turnover and Army would score off of it.

Under-8 Media Timeout: Army 21, Indiana basketball 14.

Anthony Walker would score out of the break thanks to an assist from Ware. Galloway would add a strong layup.

Army would score but Xavier Johnson would answer with a three-point play for himself. Got fouled putting up offensive put-back and converted at the line.

Ware with an easy dunk to cut the Army lead to 26-23. Army timeout.

Under-4 Media Timeout: Army 26, Indiana basketball 23

Mgbako would hit his first shot attempt of the game.

Mike Woodson timeout at the 1:19 mark. Hoosiers down 29-27.

Indiana would take the lead for the first time since the first score off a Xavier Johnson corner three. Army timeout.

Army would score out of the timeout and Malik Reneau would get called for the offensive shove. Turnover No. 9 for Indiana.

Somehow, someway Indiana would go into the half leading.

At the half: Indiana basketball 32, Army 31. 

– Where would Indiana be without Xavier Johnson — the only one playing with energy and purpose
– Trailed for 14:37 of the first half … led for just 1:56
– No defensive toughness. This team needs to get out in transition
– Bench lacking again

Half: #iubb 32, Army 31. pic.twitter.com/VLXqUXAj5q

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) November 13, 2023

Second Half

Army scored first out of the half.

Xavier Johnson would give Indiana its 10th turnover.

Malik Reneau would get Indiana’s first points of the half.

Army’s Blake Barker would nail a corner three with the shot clock winding down. Indiana down 36-34.

Reneau would get fouled and go 2-2 at the line.

Mike Woodson would call a timeout at the 16:22 mark. Hoosiers down 39-36.

Kel’el Ware would score out of the timeout.

Scary moment with Xavier Johnson. Came down and immodesty started grabbing his lower leg. Was able to walk off under his own power.

Under-16 Media Timeout: Indiana basketball 40, Army 39. 

Trey Galloway with a lob to Ware out of the timeout.

Army would nail cover three to tie the game back up. Ware would answer with a bucket and foul. He would convert at the line.

Indiana would start to feed their big guys down low, which would result for score after score. Defense would getting beat still, however.

Timeout Army. Hoosiers lead 52-46.

Kel’el Ware scored 11-straight points for Indiana there. Up to 15 for the game on 7-of-9 from the floor.

Sparks checks in for Ware.

Indiana would hit 9 straight FGs. Army would break their drought and nail a three.

Xavier Johnson and CJ Gunn check back in for Banks and Galloway. Johnson and Sparks would have a nice baseline PnR.

Sparks would get called for the illegal screen. Walker in for Reneau.

Indiana would be called on back-to-back fouls. Crowd was letting the refs have it.

Indiana forces a shot clock violation.

Under-8 media timeout: Indiana basketball 56, Army 52.

Johnson would turn the ball over which would cause Walker to have a frustration foul. Reneau back into Walker. Army in the bonus rest of the way through.

Johnson would air ball a three.

Ware back in for Sparks. Galloway back in for Cupps.

Reneau to Ware for the easy lob dunk.

Army will not go away. Made three cut the Indiana lead to 2.

Army ties it at 58.

Tied at 58 with 3:20 left

Ware would go 1-2 at the line but Xavier Johnson would get the rebound. Reneau would get fouled. He’d hit both FT attempts.

Reneau would come up with a huge block to follow.

Gabe Cupps would hit a huge three to extend the lead to 64-48.

Army would respond with a three.

Reneau gets fouled on the other end. Goes 2-2 at the line.

Steal by Ware leads to a Ware fast break dunk. Assist from Galloway.

Johnson would go 2-2 at the line. Airball by Army would follow.

Galloway fouled. He’d goes 0-2.

Indiana would go onto win 72-64.

Final Box Score + Expanded Stats:

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

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