HoosierIllustrated Live Blog: FINAL: Indiana basketball 100, Kennesaw State 87

Indiana University closes out the non-conference slate in its 124th season of competition in men’s basketball at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall against Kennesaw State.

Kennesaw State (9-4) has five players averaging nearly 10 points per game in sophomore guard Simwon Cottle (16.3), senior guard Terrell Burden (13.5), senior forward Demond Robinson (12.5), Quincy Ademokoya (11.8), and junior forward Jamel King (9.8). As a team, the Owls average 85.4 points and make 9.5 3-pointers per outing.

KSU, coming off the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament since joining the Division I ranks, are led by first-year head coach Antoine Pettway. The former Alabama guard spent 15 seasons as an assistant coach in Tuscaloosa.

Scouting Note: Kennesaw State

Tip off is scheduled for 6:00 ET on BTN+.

Below is the full running live blog.

Indiana Injury Report

Indiana basketball center Kel’el Ware will not play tonight. It is reported he is out due to covid.

Guard Xavier Johnson is listed as questionable but is not expected to play.

More:Indiana basketball releases injury report ahead of matchup with Kennesaw State

Pregame Notes:

Xavier Johnson is officially out. He was seen again without a boot on his foot and was shooting around. The best he has looked since his injury.

Kel’el Ware is not in the arena.

2024 five-star signee Liam McNeeley headlines a group of visitors at Indiana tonight.

2024 five-star Indiana signee Liam McNneeley (@liammcneeley30) in the house. 📞 ☎️ #iubb pic.twitter.com/tdkclddeGl

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) December 29, 2023

2026 in-state forward Evan Harrell (Carmel HS) here for Indiana vs Kennesaw State. @EvanHarrell18 pic.twitter.com/YRO69DOYlF

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) December 29, 2023

Indiana starters:

First Half

Indiana wins the tip.

Mackenzie Mgbako for three to start us off here. Kennesaw State answers. Mgbako answers again with another three.

Payton Sparks gets a score out of the post.

Mackenzie Mgabko 3-3 from three to start off the game.

Malik Reneau for three. Defensive stop leads to another Reneau bucket.

Hoosiers are shooting 100% at the moment. 7-7 FG including 4-4 from three. Can’t ask for a better start.

Media timeout: Indiana 18, KSU 8.

Standing ovation for Hoosier signee Liam McNeeley, who is sitting next to former #iubb forward Race Thompson. https://t.co/Zq4nqyrjcV

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) December 29, 2023

Anthony Walker checks in for Sparks.

KSU scores back-to-back FGs out of the break.

Mgbako nails his 4th three. 4-4 from three.

Indiana takes a timeout at the 12:20 mark. Indiana leads 27-18. 

Gabe Cupps in for Trey Galloway. Cupps and Gunn backcourt at the moment.

Transition dunk by Reneau. Was led by Gabe Cupps.

Sparks in for Reneau.

CJ Gunn gets a strong drive and bucket.

Under-8 Media Timeout: Indiana basketball 37, KSU 24.

Reneau and Mgbako back in. Walker and Banks out.

Reneau got the ball stripped and CJ Gunn had a big block to stop the transition bucket.

Payton Sparks doing a lot of the dirty work this game. Diving on the floor for all the loose balls.

Mgbako misses hist first three of the game.

Under-4 Media timeout: Indiana basketball 43, KSU 34.

Hoosiers and KSU both have 9 turnovers.

What a beautiful inbounds play from Indiana. Quick pass in by Banks to Galloway and Galloway throws it right back for the Banks two-handed slam.

Banks hits two FTs. Kennesaw State calls timeout with 19.0 left in first half.

At the half: Indiana basketball 50, KSU 46

– 14 pts off of 9 TOs for KSU
– Live ball TOs –> 8 steals for KSU
– Overhelping continues to be a huge detriment to IU … D becomes so frantic, leading to 9 3s
– Lack of discipline all around over the final 5 min
– Can't let KSU hang around

Half: #iubb 50, Kennesaw State 46 pic.twitter.com/Jy6XRgkWpL

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) December 29, 2023

Second Half

KSU ball to start. Indiana gets a defensive stop.

Gotta give major credit to Payton Sparks. Taking advantage of these extended minutes tonight.

KSU timeout. Indiana basketball up 56-51 at the 17:01 mark. Malik Reneau with 2 FTs out of the break.

Reneau goes 1-2 at the line.

Mgabko picks up his third foul .

Sparks very lucky he did not get called for a tech there. Got all up in the face of his defender after that And1.

Banks in for Mgbako.

Technical foul on Mike Woodson.

KSU takes the lead at there 13:29 mark.

Anthony Leal checks in.

Kaleb Banks scores through contact. He makes the free throw.

Under-12 Media Timeout: Indiana 69, KSU 68

Indiana in the bonus the last 11:32.

Anthony Leal gets a bucket in transition. Assist by Trey Galloway.

Hoosiers on a 7-0 run the last 1:36 having hit their last 7-of-8.

KSU just 1 of their last 7.

Hoosiers lead 81-71 with 7:39 to play.

Mike Woodson calls timeout. Hoosiers lead 85-71 with 6:13 left. Hoosiers on a 21-3 run.

Final Media Timeout: Indiana 92, KSU 77

Malik Reneau has back-to-back career highs. He is up to 29 points on 11-of-16 from the field. Six different Hoosiers have scored in double-figures.

Final: Indiana basketball 100, Kennesaw State 87.

Final Box Score + Extended Stats

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