HoosierIllustrated Live Blog: FINAL – Indiana basketball 65, Maryland 53

Indiana basketball returns to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall after a three-game road skid that saw the Hoosiers go 1-1 at the Empire Classic and knock off Harvard this past Sunday in Indianapolis. The Hoosiers kick off Big Ten play tonight as they host the Maryland Terrapins and former Indiana basketball forward Jordan Geronimo.

The Terrapins enter the contest with a 4-3 record including three-straight wins against UMBC (92-68), South Alabama (68-55), and Rider (103-76). Senior forward Jordan Geronimo played his first three collegiate seasons with the Hoosiers and averaged 3,8 points and 2.7 rebounds per contest across 82 games. He is averaging 7.1 points and 4.1 over his first seven games with the Terps and has made five starts. Maryland head coach Kevin Willard is in his second season in College Park. He holds a record of 26-16 at Maryland.

Scouting Notes: Maryland

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

Below is the full live blog

Pregame Notes

UPDATE: Xavier Johnson will not play tonight.

Xavier Johnson who is listed as questionable for tonight is in street clothes and not warming up. #iubb pic.twitter.com/x4vQTGNVlL

— Drew Rosenberg (@drew_rosenberg2) December 1, 2023

With Xavier Johnson now out, Indiana is down to Trey Galloway, Gabe Cupps, CJ Gunn, and Anthony Leal in the guard rotation.

Time to step up…..period. #iubb

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) December 1, 2023

Former Indiana forward and current Maryland forward Jordan Geronimo just came out for warmups to a chorus of boos from the student section. Not sure that one is deserved or not. #iubb pic.twitter.com/BmeqIPOYIm

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) December 1, 2023

New #iufb head coach Curt Cignetti walks by the student section to a roaring cheer — even starts giving some high fives to the students behind the basket. Needless to say, he looks pretty fired up.

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) December 1, 2023

Indiana Injury Report

Questionable: Xavier Johnson (foot) and Malik Reneau (back)

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.

“Buddy ball” to start off here. Malik Reneau to Kel’el Ware for the first bucket. Maryland following it with a travel.

Trey Galloway picks up his first foul.

Indiana goes up 8-2 off of gritty plays on both ends. Maryland timeout at 16:29.

Maryland hits a jumper out of the break. Foul called on Maryland guard Jamie Kaiser. Media timeout.

Indiana basketball leads at the 15:32 mark.

Trey Galloway bounce pass to Reneau out of the break for the easy layup.

Kel’el Ware follows it up with a three.

CJ Gunn checks in for Gabe Cupps

“Buddy Ball” is 2-2 from behind the arc so far tonight. 

Anthony Walker checks in for Reneau. Kaleb Banks in for Mgbako.

Trey Galloway hit a wild floater to extend the lead to 18-6 at the 11:39 mark.

Jahmir Young hits a three out of the break Indiana 18-11.

Kel’el Ware followed with a tough post bucket.

Gabe Cupps would be called for his first foul.

Banks and Sparks would get a couple of offensive rebounds that would lead to Sparks getting two attempts at the line. He would go 1-2.

Malik Reneau would pick up his second foul.

Kaleb Banks would hit the ground hard and CJ Gunn would get the rebound, miss the put-back, but Banks got it and put it back in.

Indiana Elite backcourt of Trey Galloway and Anthony Leal getting a run together here in the first half.

Anthony Walker finds a lane and hit an easy floater.

Trey Galloway with a steal that leads for a transition layup.

Maryland calls their second timeout of the half. Hoosiers up 27-18 with 7:11 left in 1H.

Indiana basketball opens up a full-court press out of the break.

Ware gets the bucket plus the foul. Anthony Leal with a nice drive and dish off to the big man. Ware misses the free throw however Indiana got the offensive rebound but the ball went out of bounds.

Leal would miss an open three but Mgbako got the offensive rebound and got fouled on the put-back. He would go 2-2 from the line.

Ware picks up his first foul.

Cupps in for Leal. Great minutes from Leal in that stretch.

Maryland cuts the lead to 31-24. Ware hits a turnaround jumper and gets fouled on the attempt. He will have a FT after the break.

Indiana basketball up 33-24 with 3:20 left in 1H. 

Ware makes the FT out of the break.

Mgabko nails a corner three. He followed it up with a tough mid-range jumper.

Woodson calls a timeout as Indiana leads 39-24 with 1:35 left in 1H. Malik Reneau was hyped meeting his teammates at half court.

Cupps picks up his second foul and CJ Gunn comes in for him.

At the half: Indiana basketball 40, Maryland 28

– Most complete half of the season
– 10 assists on 16 FGs
– IU front court w/ 30 points and 12 FGs
– Finally winning the rebound battle
– 3 3s = one away from typing a season high
– Overall energy + toughness was terrific

Half: #iubb 40, Maryland 28 pic.twitter.com/YC7XpU0rMj

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) December 2, 2023

Second Half

Indiana basketball with the ball out of the break. Starting five in.

Malik Reneau with a travel to start the half.

Indiana basketball missing a few bunnies to start off.

Reneau hits a bucket for the Hoosiers first bucket of the half.

Trey Galloway with a strong drive and then follows it up with a transition bucket. Good stretch for the senior guard right there.

Indiana up 46-31 at the 16:19 mark. 

Kel’el Ware with a nice assist to Galloway for the easy layup. Third straight bucket for Galloway.

Indiana up 50-31 with 14:57 left.

Kel’el wares picks up his second foul of the game.

Julian Reese heads to the bench after his fourth foul. Tough break for Maryland.

Mike Woodson was not happy with Galloway holding the ball there. Was up in his face, Brian Walsh had to get Woodson back to the bench.

CJ Gunn with a steal that leads to Trey Galloway fast break layup. Hoosiers are locked in on both ends.

Indiana up 58-35 with 10:39 left. 

Hoosiers would get a shot clock violation.

Gunn with foul on the fast break attempt. He would go 1-2 at the line.

Indiana basketball would on 2:34 stretch with no FGs.

Kel’el Ware with a double-double with 7:40 left. Hoosiers up 61-39.

Under-8 Media Timeout: Indiana basketball 61, Maryland 42. 

Jordan Geronimo air-balled a corner three.

Indiana calls timeout. Up 61-44.

🔥 Fired up, Hoosier Nation. pic.twitter.com/1xDHpvS2on

— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) December 2, 2023

Indiana up to 10 turnovers now. Been real sloppy with the ball in the 2nd half.

Maryland slowly sneaking back into this one. On a 10-0 run.

Kel’el Ware bucket breaks the scoring drought for Indiana.

Malik Reneau picks up his fourth foul. Indiana leads 63-49 with 3:56 left.

Jahmir Young up to 18 points. Hoosiers lead 65-51 and going to the line with 2:29 left.

Final: Indiana basketball 65, Maryland 53

Final Box Score + Extended Stats

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

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