HoosierIllustrated Live Blog: FINAL: Indiana basketball 61, Penn State 59 – Big Ten Tournament

Indiana basketball will open play in the 2024 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday, March 14, against the 11-seeded Penn State Nittany Lions.

Indiana head coach Mike Woodson has led the Hoosiers to the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament in each of his first two trips to the postseason event. Woodson holds a record of 3-2 in the Big Ten Tournament.

Scouting Notes: Penn State

Tip is tentatively set for 9 p.m. ET from the Target Center in Minneapolis. The game will carry a BTN broadcast.

Below is the full live blog of Indiana basketball vs Penn State

Indiana Injury Report

Questionable: Trey Galloway, Anthony Walker

Out: Jakai Newton

Pregame Notes

Per reports, Tre yGalloway is not expected to play tonight.

He also states that Xavier Johnson and Gabe Cupps will start if Galloway can’t go. #iubb https://t.co/oUnFMh9q4R

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) March 15, 2024

Anthony Walker is warming up for Indiana basketball. Trey Galloway looks to be a no-go.

Indiana Starters

G – Xavier Johnson

G – Gabe Cupps

F – Mackenzie Mgbako

F – Malik Reneau

C – Kel’el Ware

First Half

Indiana basketball wins the tip and we are off. Right away, Kel’el Ware with a giant flush. Nice start for Indiana.

Ware has been great on the defensive thus far. Mgbako is a little unsettled on offense.

Offensive foul called on Malik Reneau. First foul.

Foul called on Penn State’s Puff Johnson and we go to break.

Under-16 Media Timeout: Indiana basketball 6, PSU 2

Good post up from Mgbako out of the break. Don’t see that often but worked there. Underrated strength.

Penn State struggling to shoot the ball but Indiana not taking all the advantage. Would like to see them push the pace a little.

Back-to-back threes from Penn State. Indiana 10-8.

Leal checks in for Mgbako. Walker in for Reneau.

PSU ties it. Lions on a run.

Gabe Cupps nails a three to break the PSU 8-0 run.

Ware picks up his first foul.

Under-12 Media Timeout: Indiana 13, PSU 10

Mgbako checks in for Cupps out of the break.

Shot fake on the wing leads to an easy layup for Mgbako.

Leal three from a skip pass from Cupps. Hoosiers up 20-12. 7-0 run for Indiana.

Penn State is currently 0-of-10 on layups. Indiana's length an issue but also playing with a lot of physicality in the paint. Nittany Lions a bit out of sorts offensively.#iubb

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) March 15, 2024

Refs stop play because of a fan using a whistle in the arena. Hoosiers lead 20-13 as we go into a break.

Foul called on Mgbako. Reneau had a spell there where he thought the foul was on him.

Xavier Johnson goes coast-to-coast for a play. PSU was in press there.

PSU’s Hicks hits a three and was fouled by Leal as well.

Final Media Timeout of the half: Indiana 26, PSU 21

Indiana REALLY needs to find that killer instinct this game.

Penn State is shooting 21% (!) from the field and Indiana only leads by 5 with 4-min left in the half.

If Penn State goes on a big run, Hoosiers could be in trouble. #iubb

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) March 15, 2024

Xavier Johnson has been fantastic to start — exactly what Indiana needed. Controlling the tempo on both ends of the floor and making the right pass offensively. His controlled aggressiveness is on full display. #iubb

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) March 15, 2024

Another offensive foul called on Reneau. Thats 2 on him.

Ware then picks up his second foul.

Timeout Indiana with 2:21 left tin the half. The only reason Penn State has stayed in this one is at the free throw line. Hoosiers have yet to attempt a free throw.

Mgbako finally gets Indiana basketball to the free throw line. He goes 2-2. Sparks checks in for Ware to finish out the half.

Payton Sparks steps up and takes a charge. Big play for the junior center.

Mgbako hits contested jumper. That was big for him.

At the half: Indiana basketball 32, Penn State 27

Mike Woodson at the half on BTN: "It doesn't matter about how many minutes you get it matter what you do with your damn minutes."#iubb

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) March 15, 2024

– PSU w/ 8 off rebounds for 10 2nd chance pts
– PSU just 1-of-14 on layups …
– Xavier Johnson controlling the game
– FTs keeping PSU in this one
– Critical first segment for Malik Reneau + Kel'el Ware w/ 2 fouls each
– Ace Baldwin 0-of-7

Half: #iubb 32, Penn State 27 pic.twitter.com/Ww0ZyQO5iH

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) March 15, 2024

Second Half

Penn State ball out of the half. Ace Baldwin gets a bucket.

Mgbako misses a three but Ware got the rebound and was rewarded with a shooting foul. He goes 2-2 at the line.

PSU takes their first lead of the game. PSU 35-34.

PSU now leads 42-36. 13-2 run. 

Foul on Xavier Johnson out of the break.

Mgbako picks up his third foul.

Back-to-back tie ups eventually leads to Indiana’s ball.

Xavier Johnson pull up two cuts the PSU lead 42-40.

Gabe Cupps three gives Indiana basketball the lead back.

Defense turning into offense for Indiana.

7-0 run and a Gabe Cupps three forces a Penn State timeout. #iubb leads 43-42 with 12:27 left.

— Kyler Staley (@kylerstaley) March 15, 2024

Gabe Cupps is now shooting 37.8% on 3s this year after a 2-of-3 start tonight. Low volume shooter, but he's becoming more and more confident with that jumper as of late. #iubb

— Alec Lasley (@allasley) March 15, 2024

Indiana basketball in a zone now. We go right back into a media timeout, however.

Malik Reneau with another silly foul. His third foul.

Gabe Cupps draws a charge. He has been outstanding on the defensive end.

Leal draws a shooting foul. He goes 2-2 at the line. Indiana basketball back with the lead.

Tough Ware bucket extends he Indiana lead to three but Penn State knocks down three to tie it again.

Leal fouled again on a shot attempt. He goes 1-2 at the line.

Malik Reneau draws a charge.

Under-8 media timeout: Indiana 48, Penn State 47

Both teams in the bonus with 7:33 left.

Ware picks up his third foul for holding.

Puff Johnson picks up his fourth foul for Penn State. Reneau gets a chance at the line. He goes 2-2 at the line.

PSU’s Nick Kern fouls out.

Reneau gets fouled again. He goes 2-2 again. Indiana basketball 54-49.

Mgbako fouled. He goes 1-2 at the line. Indian doing great at getting to the line. Mike Woodson calls timeout at the 5:12 mark.

Renaue called for his 4th foul. They slide Mgbako to the four with Ware.

Mgbako picks up his 4th foul.

Final media timeout: Indiana 55, PSU 53

PSU ties it up at 55 with 3:56 left.

Ware fouled. He goes 1-2 at the line. Indiana up 1.

PSU takes the lead back.

Ware fouled after grabbing a Reneau miss. He goes 1-2. Game tied.

Ware bucket gives Indiana the lead back.

Game tied at 59 again. 1:10 left.

Mike Woodson calls timeout. Game tied at 59. 24.3 left 21 sec on the shot clock.

Anthony Leal gets an offensive rebound and puts it back. Penn State misses it at the buzzer.

Indiana will play Nebraska tomorrow night in the quarterfinal round.

Final: Indiana basketball 61, Penn State 59

Final Box Score + Extended Stats

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