HoosierIllustrated Live Blog: FINAL- Indiana basketball 83, North Alabama 66

Indiana basketball continues its 124th season of competition at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall against North Alabama. The Hoosiers are coming a very scary yet close win over Morehead State to keep on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble.

North Alabama (6-6) is led by sophomore guard Jacari Lane. The reigning ASUN Freshman of the Year averages 13.4 points, 4.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per night. Senior guard KJ Johnson leads the team in scoring at 13.9 per night, while senior forward Damian Forrest pulls down a team-best 8.5 rebounds a game. UNA is led by sixth-year head coach Tony Pujol. He led the Lions to their first NCAA Division I postseason game with an appearance in the CBI Tournament in 2014.

Scouting Notes: North Alabama

Tip off is scheduled for 8:30 ET on BTN.

Below is the full running blog of Indiana basketball vs North Alabama.

Indiana Injury Report

Xavier Johnson and Malik Reneau are listed as ‘questionable’, per the Big Ten availability report.

Johnson is not expected to play. There was progress made, however, with his rehab. Tuesday’s game was the first time since he initially went out of the lineup a month ago where he didn’t have a boot on his foot.

Pregame Notes

Just a couple of Bloomington South Indiana Mr. Basketballs (and Don Fischer), Jordan Hulls and Anthony Leal, chilling before tipoff. #iubb pic.twitter.com/1GwE6hlxkq

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) December 21, 2023

Xavier Johnson OUT again tonight but is getting some light shooting up during pregame warmups. #iubb pic.twitter.com/YHxA4XBx9x

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) December 22, 2023

Malik Reneau is good to go tonight after being listed as ‘questionable.’ #iubb pic.twitter.com/MzQsG9YuTz

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) December 22, 2023

Indiana starters:

Indiana starters vs North Alabama –

F- Kel’el Ware

F- Malik Reneau

F- Mackenzie Mgbako

G- Trey Galloway

G- Gabe Cupps

First Half

North Alabama wins the tip.

Malik Reneau gets Indiana on the board first — he had just six points on Tuesday.

Mackenzie Mgbako follows with a three. Quick 5-0 start for IU.

Nearly 3 minutes without a field goal for Indiana basketball now. A 15-footer by Gabe Cupps ends the drought. 7-2 Indiana.

Malik Reneau hits a three as the trailer in transition.

Under-16 media timeout: Indiana basketball 10, North Alabama 4. 2 fouls on Gabe Cupps.

North Alabama doubling the post on every touch — should be lots of good looks for the Indiana wings on the perimeter. Need to keep up its early start from 3.

UNA has had some good looks from the perimeter but haven’t been able to convert. Just 1-of-7 from three. Come into tonight shooting 36.2 percent on 3s as a team, making 7.8 3s per game.

Under-12 Media Timeout: Indiana basketball 18, UNA 8 — 11 early points from Malik Reneau.

UNA with 7 turnovers through 8 minutes.

7 different Hoosiers have scored. Indiana up 24-13.

Under-8 media timeout: Indiana basketball 28, UNA 17.

Under-4 media timeout: Indiana basketball 34, UNA 26.  IU is 4-of-11 on 3s.

Indiana has hit 5 3s — thanks to a make from Anthony Leal. Back-to-back 3s for UNA.

Malik Reneau hits his third 3 of the half to give Indiana a nine point lead at the half.

Halftime: Indiana basketball 43, UNA 34. 

Second Half

Mackenzie Mgbako gets Indiana on the board first, finishing a layup in traffic.

Trey Galloway makes a three, the 7th of the game which is a season-high for Indiana.

Under-16 Media Timeout: Indiana basketball 52, UNA 37. Malik Reneau has 18 points.

14 assists on 20 made FGs now — seven players with at least one assist and four with at least two. #iubb https://t.co/6CX8eblL43

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) December 22, 2023

Kel’el Ware is making his impact felt at the rim on both ends. 2 blocks on defense and has finished a few alley-oops on the other end.

Mackenzie Mgbako makes the 9th three of the game for Indiana to put the Hoosiers up 20.

Under-12 Media Timeout: Indiana basketball 64, UNA 44.

Malik Reneau is up to 25 points which is a new career-high for him, with over 8 minutes left. He has hit 4 threes this game.

Under-8 Media Timeout: Indiana basketball 73, UNA 48.

Under-4 Media Timeout: Indiana basketball 79, UNA 57.

Indiana’s 12 3s are the most under Mike Woodson.

The Hoosiers finished with 25 assists on 31 made field goals. Trey Galloway had a career-high 9 assists. 15 assists on 15 second-half made field goals.

Halftime: Indiana basketball 83, UNA 66. 

Final Box Score + Extended Stats

Make sure to follow Hoosier Illustrated, part of the Full Ride Network, on Twitter @Indiana_FRN, Facebook and YouTube to stay up to date on all of the news, updates and coverage of Indiana University athletics. You can also listen to the Talking’ Bout the Hoosiers podcast on Spotify.