Indiana gets a double-digit win over Rutgers

By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

      The Indiana Hoosiers beat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 84-74 Thursday Night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall to restart the Big Ten Conference Season. Indiana is 11-3 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten and will travel to Philadelphia to face Penn State on Sunday at Noon in the historic Palestra. Rutgers is 8-6 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten. The Series is now tied 9-9 as the Hoosiers are 5-2 all time against the Scarlet Knights in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

       Rutgers played without leading scorer Dylan Harper who was sick and Indiana’s Malik Reneau who scored 4 seconds into the game on a dunk was injured 24 seconds later after banging knees and did not return to the game. Oumar Ballo returned for the Hoosiers after a one game absence and scored 17 points and pulled down 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Indiana Head Coach Mike Woodson was asked if Oumar Ballo coming off the bench was discipline related: “Let’s just talk about his 17 and 12. That’s what I’d like to focus on.”

    Myles Rice led the Hoosiers with 21 points and went 8-8 from the free throw line. Mackenize Mgbako scored 16 points and pulled down 7 rebounds and Trey Galloway added 11 points. Indiana finished 28-72 from the field for 39%, 12-27 from three-point range for 44% and 16-25 from the free throw line for 64%. The Hoosiers pulled down 48 rebounds, dished out 16 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks, 34 second chance points, 25 bench points, 19 points off turnovers and committed just 8 turnovers. It’s the first time that the Hoosiers have hit double digit threes in a game since January 28, 2023. Indiana went 1-20 from three-point range against Winthrop on Sunday.

     Ace Bailey scored 39 points for the Scarlet Knights. The 6-10 Freshman from Chattanooga, Tennessee went 16-29 from the field, 4-8 from three-point range and 3-8 from the free throw line. Bailey pulled down 8 rebounds, 4 blocks and a steal. Bailey can score in a variety of ways and without Dylan Harper in the lineup he put the Scarlet Knights on his back as he was the only Rutgers in double figures. Rutgers finished the game 27-61 from the field for 44%, 6-21 from three-point range for 28% and 14-23 from the free throw line for 61%. Rutgers pulled down 36 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 blocks, 3 steals, 28 points in the paint, 18 bench points, 12 points off turnovers and committed 11 turnovers.

     The game featured 4 lead changes and three ties. Indiana got momentum going into the locker room as Myles Rice drove to basket and Ace Bailey blocked the shot off the backboard as the Hoosier Fans wanted a goaltending call but did not get one. Anthony Leal got the offensive rebound and heaved up a turnaround three and went in at the buzzer as the Hoosiers lead 41-37 at halftime. Anthony Leal was asked after the game about that play, and he responded with “Weird things like that seem to happen to me.” Indiana outscored Rutgers 43-40 in the second half but the Hoosiers went without a field goal for the final three minutes of the game. Leal the hometown kid who was a 2020 Indiana Mr. Basketball for Bloomington South played 18 minutes and scored 5 points. Leal was given the defensive assignment on Ace Bailey and said he forced Ace Bailey to his left and play tough to force contested shots.

     Bailey and Dylan Harper are the 1-2 punch for a Rutgers team that has two promising Freshman that might not be on campus after this season. Harper’s absence was huge for Rutgers, but Bailey showed that he had to be the guy even though they came up short. Bailey stated his case for Big Ten Freshman of the Year with his performance, but the big picture is what do the professional scouts think about his skillset translating to the NBA and my guess is should he decide to enter the NBA Draft after the season he will be considered a lottery pick.