The Indiana Hoosiers lost to the #24 Excel H Sports Ranked Northwestern Wildcats 76-72 Sunday Afternoon in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers debuted their new alternate “Fear of God” uniforms from Adidas which they announced Friday Afternoon they were wearing, and they were not well received by Hoosier Nation. Indiana is 14-11 overall and 6-8 in the Big Ten as their hopes for a postseason appearance are slipping away. The Hoosiers have lost two in a row and three of the last four as they host Nebraska Wednesday Night in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Northwestern remains the only team that Indiana Head Coach Mike Woodson has not beaten in his three seasons as Hoosier head coach dropping to 0-4. The Wildcats have won four in against the Hoosiers for the first time since 1933 and three in a row in Bloomington since 1916. The Hoosiers still lead the series 120-57 and during the game a stat was put out on social media that Hall of Fame Coach Bob Knight was 50-3 all time at Indiana against the Wildcats and never lost to Northwestern at home. Northwestern Head Coach Chris Collins is 9-8 against the Hoosiers.
Northwestern got 26 points from Ryan Langborg who was 7-15 from the field, 4-7 from three-point range and perfect 8-8 from the free throw line. The Wildcats got double-doubles from Matt Nicholson and Nick Martinelli. Nicholson finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds while Nicholson finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Leading scorer Boo Buie finished with 14 points. Buie came into the game sitting with 2,020 Career Points just 18 away from tying John Shurna played from 2008-12 with 2,038 Career Points. Buie has 2,034 points will go for the record on Thursday Night at home against Michigan as he will need just 5 points to break the Northwestern school scoring record. Northwestern improves to 18-8 overall and 9-6 in the Big Ten.
The Wildcats finished the game 23-65 from the field for 36%, 8-23 from three-point range for 34% and 22-28 from the free throw line for 78%. The Wildcats pulled down 38 rebounds, dished out 14 assists, 5 steals and 2 blocks. Northwestern handled the ball very well committing just three turnovers the entire game. Northwestern had 26 points in the paint, 11 points off turnovers and 1 point of the bench.
Kel’el Ware recorded his 10th double-double with 22 points and 16 rebounds. Freshman Mackenize Mgbako finished with a career high with 20 points and his ninth double-figure game in the last 10 games and his 18th game this season. Malik Reneau fouled out with 8 points and 5 rebounds, Freshman Gabe Cupps scored 8 points and had no turnovers before he fouled out as he started in place of Xavier Johnson who remains out with an elbow injury. Trey Galloway added 7 points along with 12 assists, Anthony Walker, Payton Sparks and CJ Gunn all scored 2 points each and Anthony Leal played but did not score. The Hoosiers finished the game 27-53 from the field for 53%, 6-18 from three-point range for 33%, and 12-21 from the free throw line for 57%. The Hoosiers had 37 rebounds, 19 assists, 5 blocks, 1 steal and committed 11 turnovers. The Hoosiers had 38 points in the paint, 6 bench points and no points off turnovers.
Northwestern led 34-26 at halftime as there was 5 lead changes and 4 ties. The Wildcats led for 34:38 while the Hoosiers led for 1:33 with the game tied for 3:49. Indiana outscored Northwestern 46-42 in the second half but every time the Hoosiers made a charge Northwestern had the answer by hitting their free throws. The Wildcats had 14 offensive rebounds and three turnovers the entire game made the difference in game that was very physical throughout. Head Coach Mike Woodson summed up the game perfectly when being asked the question about what is wrong with the Hoosier offense. “You watched the same game I did; you have got to make shots and we didn’t do that” Woodson said.
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