HoosierIllustrated Live Blog: FINAL: Indiana basketball 74, Iowa 68

Indiana basketball returns to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall during its 124th season of competition for a matchup against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Hoosiers are currently on a three-game losing skid as January wraps up.

The Hawkeyes (12-8, 4-5) are second in the Big Ten in scoring at 85.1 points per game. Iowa scores 94.9 points per game in victories and 71.6 points per outing in losses. Head coach Fran McCaffery, who is in his 14th season on the Iowa sideline, is the program’s all-time leader in career wins at 273. He passed Dr. Tom Davis (271) on the list.

Fifth-year senior forward Ben Krikke, a transfer from Valparaiso, averages 15.7 points per game to lead the Hawkeyes. Senior guard, and Indianapolis native, Tony Perkins posts a line of 15.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.8 steals per night.

Junior forward Payton Sandfort (14.5 points, 6.9 rebounds) and freshman forward Owen Freeman (11.2, 6.2) each hit double figures in the scoring column.

Scouting Notes: Iowa

Tip is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET on BTN.

Below is the full live, running blog of Indiana basketball vs Iowa.

Indiana Injury Report

Indiana center Kel’el Ware is listed as ‘questionable’ with an ankle injury. He has missed the last two games.

Pregame Notes

Kel’el Ware is in uniform and warming up.

Every other normal Hoosier is healthy.

2025 Indiana basketball target and four-star prospect Malachi Moreno is at the game. He has visited Indiana numerous times.

Mike Woodson says on his pregame radio spot that Kel’el Ware (ankle) will start but ‘isn’t sure’ how many minutes he will play. Mentions that he’s been very limited in practice. 

Indiana Starters:

First Half:

Indiana wins the tip and Malik Reneau starts things off with a bucket.

Payton Sandford and Mackenzie Mgbako exchange a pair of 3s.

Malik Reneau down in pain holding his right ankle and needs help coming off the floor. Heading right to the locker room. 

Very energetic start for Indiana on both ends. Timeout IU, up 13-7.

Mgbako barely misses his first three but Ware has a nice outback dunk.

Mgbako with an airball. Forcing it a little now.

Fast break layup extends the Indiana basketball lead to 19-12.

Anthony Leal checks in for Mgbako.

Malik Reneau came back to the Indiana bench shortly but then went back to the locker room — again — this time on crutches. #iubb https://t.co/q03l6p1ktI

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) January 31, 2024

Under-12 Media Timeout: Indiana basketball 19, Iowa 15

Cupps in for Johnson out of the break.

Kel’el Ware banks in a three. Hoosiers up 24-15.

Anthony Leal knocks down an open three. Hoosiers up 27-15 with less than 9-min left in the first half.

Anthony Leal with back-to-back threes.

Things you love to see. #iubb

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) January 31, 2024

Iowa Timeout at 8:03. Indiana basketball up 30-15

CJ Gunn checks in for Trey Galloway. Cupps, Leal, and Gunn in the backcourt for the Hoosiers.

Ware goes to the line. He goes 1-2.

Under-4 media timeout: Indiana basketball 33-19

I’m kinda upset Anthony Leal has been treated like a bum this whole time like he wasn’t literally INDIANA MR BASKETBALL

— ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) January 31, 2024

CJ Gunn airball out of the break.

Ware and Mgbako back in.

Iowa goes on a 6-0 run.

Hoosiers able to hold off Iowa and go into the half up 11.

At the Half: Indiana 39, Iowa 28

Halftime Stats #iubb pic.twitter.com/Nht3HBuaWU

— Drew Rosenberg (@drew_rosenberg2) January 31, 2024

Second Half:

Anthony Walkers in the starting lineup for the 2nd half. Still no Reneau.

Tony Perkins scores first for Iowa. Cuts the Indiana lead to 9.

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

Mgbako throws an inbounds pass off an Iowa defender and gets the easy points. Great play from the freshman.

Strong drive from Johnson gets him to the free throw line. Aggressive Johnson that attacks is the best Johnson. He went 1-2 at the line.

Under-16 media timeout: Indiana basketball 44, Iowa 35

Iowa three cuts the lead to 44-38 out of the break.

Iowa on a 8-0 run and Hoosiers on a 2:36 scoring drought.

Galloway floater breaks the scoring drought. Was almost four minutes.

Johnson three extends the lead to 49-41 before Perkins hits a tough layup for Iowa.

Common foul called. #iubb https://t.co/KBcQACohxP

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) January 31, 2024

Tony Perkins makes the bucket and gets the foul. He missed the free throw, however.

Galloway responds with a bucket.

Baseline drive from Leal gets him up to 8 pts. Senior is playing super well.

Iowa takes the lead at the 8:43 mark.

Iowa leads 54-53 at the 7:54 mark.

Ware with a thunderous one handed slam and get fouled with it. He makes the free throw to tie it up.

Anthony Leal hits his third three of the night to give Indiana back the lead. He is up to a career high at the moment.

Indiana calls a timeout. Kel’el Ware is fighting extremely hard through the pain right now.

Tie game at 60 at the 5:30 mark.

Last media timeout: Indiana basketball 64, Iowa 62. 3:41 left.

Galloway missed a layup but Ware got the rebound and was fouled. He goes 0-2 at the line. Just can’t happen down the stretch.

Xavier Johnson picks up his fourth foul.

Iowa takes the lead 66-64 with 2:20 left.

Xavier Johnson attacks the basket and got fouled. He landed on his arm on the way down and was in serious pain holding his arm.

Galloway shot the free throws to tie it up for Indiana.

Timeout Iowa with 1:45 left. Game tied at 66.

Iowa hit a baseline jumper with 2 secs left on the shot clock to give Iowa the 68-66 lead.

Gabe Cupps hits a three to give Indiana basketball the lead back. Tony Perkins turns it over which leads to Galloway to getting fouled. He went 1-2 at the line.

Mgbako missed the three but Galloway got the rebound which led to a Ware slam. Indiana leads 72-68 with 26.1 secs left.

Anthony Leal with a big defensive rebound. He got fouled and went 202 at the line. Hoosiers lead 74-68 with 12 secs left.

Final: Indiana basketball 74, Iowa 68

Final Box Score + Extended Stats

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