Hoosier Illustrated Live Blog: Indiana basketball vs Gonzaga

No. 14 Indiana basketball opened up the Battle 4 Atlantis with an awful 89-61 loss to Louisville. The blowout loss sent Indiana to the losers side of the tournament bracket, matching Indiana up with #3 Gonzaga.

Gonzaga dropped its first game of the tournament, facing West Virginia in the opening round.The game was a nail-biter that went to overtime, but West Virginia ultimately overpowered Gonzaga in the final minutes.

The loss doesn’t quite define Gonzaga as a team. Going into the tournament, Gonzaga had a 5-0 record with key wins against #8 Baylor, Arizona State and San Diego State.

Gonzaga has five players averaging double digit points in Graham Ike (13.o), Khalif Battle (14.7), Braden Huff (14.8), Nolan Hickman (11.5) and Ryan Nembhard (11.3).Nembhard, a senior guard, averages 9.8 assists per game, which ranks first this season amongst NCAA division one players. Nembhard has totaled 10 or more assists in four games this season.

Tipoff is set for 2:30 pm ET and will be on ESPN2.

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

Pregame Notes:

Jakai Newton is once again OUT.

Indiana basketball projected starters:

G – Myles Rice

G – Kanaan Carlyle

F – Mackenzie Mgbako

F – Malik Reneau

C – Oumar Ballo

First half:

Indiana basketball wins the tip and we are off. Malik Reneau misses bunny and Gonzaga scores.

Malik Reneau turnover leads to another Zags basket.

Carlyle misses a three point attempt and leads to another basket for the Zags. Mike Woodson calls timeout.

Trey Galloway in for Myles Rice.

Mgbako misses a three.

Indiana basketball gets their first stop on defense. Leads to Oumar Ballo getting fouled. He goes 1-2.

Double Flagrant fouls called on Mackenzie Mgbako and Graham Ike.

Kanaan Carlyle called for his first foul.

Oumar Ballo gets Indiana’s first basket. Down 10-3.

Reneau picks up his first foul. Indiana down 13-3.

Oumar Ballo has got to touch the ball every time he is in. Causing problems down low for Gonzaga.

Ballo gets a big block but goes out of bounds. Media timeout.

Under-16 Media Timeout: Gonzaga 13, Indiana 6

Zags with the ball out of the break. They miss and rebound goes to Carlyle. Galloway misses the drive and Ballo can’t secure the rebound.

Two fouls on Malik Reneau. 15:09 left in the first half. Luke Goode checks in.

Carlyle steal and gets the bucket. They follow up with a defensive rebound and Mgbako gets fouled on the shot attempt. He goes 2-2 at the line.

Ballo with another bucket. Gonzaga hits and three and Goode answers with another three.

15-3 run right now for Indiana.

Indiana forced to play Langdon Hatton. He comes in for Ballo.

Hatton gets an offensive board after a Goode miss. Tucker comes in for Mgbako.

Indiana is really small right now.

Hatton fouled which leads to a media timeout.

Under-12 Media Timeout: Gonzaga 21, Indiana basketball 18

Hatton goes 1-2 at the line. Zags rebound. Hatton follows it up with a block on the defensive end.

Galloway back in for Rice.

Gonzaga extends the lead to 25-19.

Hatton fouled again. He goes 1-2 again. Ballo is waiting to come in for him.

Hatton gets a steal but gets fouled. He goes 2-2 at the line and Ballo comes back in.

Ballo fouled and get the bucket as well. He hits the free throw. Indiana down 28-25.

Gonzaga getting too many offensive rebounds.

Under 8 Media Timeout: Gonzaga 35, Indiana 31. 

Right now Indiana is getting killed on the glass. 17-6. Not having Reneau hurts. Other Indiana players need to get in there and help Ballo out. Zags getting too much free looks because rebounds.

Indiana not coming out very strong out of the break. Little sloppy.

Zags lead gets extended to 10.

Rice and Goode in for Tucker and Reneau.

Hatton checks back in for Ballo.

Indiana going on a drought at the worst possible time.

Under-14 Media Timeout: Gonzaga 47, Indiana basketball 31

Gonzaga scores off a back cut out of the break.

Ballo bucket finally snaps the run.

Goode fouled. He goes 2-2. Indiana basketball down 54-35.

Carlyle three cuts the lead down. Have ti find ways to get stops and rebounds.

Anthony Leal in for Carlyle.

Gonzaga calls a timeout at the 32.2 mark.

Indiana basketball steal but Galloway turns it over.

At the half: Gonzaga 57, Indiana basketball 35

Second Half

Zags with ball out of the break. This is going to be a telling half for Indiana.

Hoosiers get a stop. Refs calls a horrendous foul on Ballo. That ref has been bad all night.

Indiana basketball gets another stop.

Rice steal and Indiana gets a transition layup.

Indiana has gotten multiple stops on defense but can’t convert on the offensive end.

Zags hit a three…..then another.

Reneau gets a basket.

Under-16 Media Timeout: Gonzaga 64, Indiana basketball 43

Gonzaga all of a sudden in big time foul trouble, Indiana has entered the bonus. Ike with four fouls, Ajayi/Huff/Stromer each have three fouls. Indiana needs to play aggressive on offense and continue to draw fouls.

Rice fouled. He goes 2-2 at the line. Still a 19-point lead for the Zags.

Another defensive stop leads to a Ballo score.

Ballo fouled but missed the front end of 1-and-1.

Goode picks up his third foul.

Reneau got a score but picked up his third foul.

Under-12 Media timeout: Gonzaga 70, Indiana basketball 51

Ballo score out of the break. Assist from Galloway.

Reneau steal leads to an Mgbako dunk.

Reneau picks up his 4th foul. Hatton checks in.

Hatton gets a bucket plus the foul. He missed the free throw. Mgbako got the rebound and was fouled. He converted on both free throws.

It just seems like whenever get Indiana gets a run they need, they just can’t catch a break. Im telling you from being here, the fight is there.

Under-8 Media timeout: Gonzaga 76, Indiana basketball 58

Indiana basketball has four players with four fouls.

Zaga scores out of the break.

The lead is 83-60 now.

Last timeout: Gonzaga 85, Indiana basketball 66

Mgbako knocks down a pull up three.

Galloway gets a layup to go. Assist from Ballo.

Mgbako connects on a pull up jumper from in front of the charity stripe.

Final: Gonzaga 89, Indiana basketball 73

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.

Looking for a place to get more Indiana content? Hoosier Illustrated has partnered with Tom Brady’s company ‘Autograph’ to streamline our coverage, so you can continue to do what you do best – follow IU sports. Use the CODE: Indianafr to get started today. For more info, you can start here.