HoosierIllustrated Live Blog: FINAL – Auburn 104, Indiana Basketball 76

Indiana Basketball continues its 124th season with a Saturday afternoon contest against Auburn as part of the Holiday Hoopsgiving. Hoosiers are coming off a big road win at Michigan on Tuesday to improve to 2-0 in the Big Ten.

Auburn (5-2) has bookended a five-game winning streak with a season-opening loss against No. 20 Baylor (88-82) and a true road loss against Appalachian State (69-64) their last time out. unior center Johni Broome leads the Tigers in points per game (18.3), rebounds (9.1), and blocked shots (1.3). Freshman guard Aden Holloway is the only other Auburn player in double figures at 10.6 points per outing. He has hit a team-high 15 3-pointers.

Scouting Notes: Auburn

Tip off is scheduled for 2:00 PM ET on ESPN2.

Below is the running live blog.

Pregame Notes

https://t.co/U7LFQMkgdG has arrived to Atlanta! @Indiana_FRN #iubb pic.twitter.com/76iFxW5ASd

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) December 9, 2023

Great turnout for Indiana vs Auburn in Atlanta. #iubb pic.twitter.com/JAlCld87d9

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) December 9, 2023

There is probably a 50/50 split between Indiana and Auburn fans here. A true neutral site game.

Indiana basketball Injury Report

Questionable: Xavier Johnson, Kel’el Ware, Malik Reneau, Anthony Walker, and CJ Gunn

Out: Jakai Newton

Xavier Johnson is not warming up today and is still in a boot. Every other ‘questionable’ player is dressed and going through warmups.

Indiana starters: 

G – Gabe Cupps

G – Trey Galloway

F – Mackenzie Mgbako

F – Malik Reneau

C – Kel’el Ware

First Half

Indiana wins the tip and we are off.

Indiana opens the games with a wide-open three from freshman guard Gabe Cupps. Auburn responds with a three. Tied up early.

Kel’el Ware responds with a three.

Indiana opens the game 3-3 from being the arc. Wow. Mgbako hit the third one.

Great defensive stance by Auburn. Reneau had a bunch of rebounds but couldn’t get any to fall.

Mgbako hits his second three. 2-2 from behind the arc for Mgbako.

Indiana extends the lead to 14-6 off a tough Ware jumper.

Auburn on an early 2:41 scoring drought.

Media Timeout: Indiana basketball leads 14-6

Third straight game that Indiana lands the first punch — toughness and grit have really started to become the backbone of this team over the recent weeks. #iubb

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) December 9, 2023

Indiana beating Auburn on the glass 8-1 right now, even though Auburn has shown to be pretty physical in the paint on defense.

Ware hits both free throws out of the break.

Play under the review. There looked to be an elbow thrown by Auburn player Chad Baker-Mazara on Mackenzie Mgbako.

Officials state just a common foul on Mgbako.

CJ Gunn checks in for Trey Galloway.

Tough baseline jumper for Gabe Cupps.

Very, very physical game. Refs really letting both teams play.

Ware gets a block which leads to a Reneau rebound which leads two Mgbako getting fouled in transition. He makes both free throws.

Kaleb Banks and Payton Sparks in for Mgabko and Ware.

Indiana leads 22-16 at the 11:27 mark. 

Galloway in for Cupps. Walker in for Reneau.

Couple buckets from Sparks and Walker gets the Indiana lead up to 26-20.

To missed laps from Galloway and Sparks.

Trey Galloway with his 2nd foul.

Auburn timeout. Indiana up 26-24 but all momentum with Tigers right now.

Lot of missed bunnies from Indiana right now.

Gabe Cupps causes a steal and Ware gets fouled.

Game tied at 26 with 7:42 left until halftime.

Auburn takes the first lead. Up 28-26.

Malik Reneau picks up his first foul.

Tigers on a 12-0 run while Indiana on a 4:49 scoring drought.

Auburn 34, Indiana basketball 27

Disaster has struck for Indiana this half. No offense and defense has been exposed.

Auburn leads 39-28 with 3:59 left in the half. Hoosiers need halftime extremely bad. 

Malik Reneau breaks a near 9-min FG drought. Makes the bucket through contact, hit the FT.

Indiana 1-of-11 in last FG attempts.

At the half: Auburn 52, Indiana basketball 34. 

No real words for what just happened except for Auburn is the tougher, quicker, smarter and more athletic team in every area right now.

Going to learn a lot about this team — and individual players — the next 20 minutes.

Half: Auburn 52, #iubb 34 pic.twitter.com/Sr7YvzIuRo

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) December 9, 2023

Second Half

Trey Galloway scores first out of the break. Gabe Cupps picks up his third foul.

Indiana came out with some major life and starts competing. Cut the Auburn lead down to 60-46 but still having trouble stoping the big play from Auburn on defense.

Malik Reneau showing a lot of life here. Indiana basketball has hit 4-of-5 FG attempts.

15:27 remaining.

Reneau hits 1-2 FTs out of the break. Ware gets the rebound but nothing falls for the Hoosiers.

Mgbako picks up two quick fouls. Banks back in.

Auburn up 68-48 with 11:52 left. 

Auburn up 83-59 with 7:48 left. 

Auburn up 95-69 with 3:48 left.

FINAL: Auburn 104,  Indiana basketball 76

Final Box Score + Extended Stats

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

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