Malik Reneau’s Big Second Half leads Indiana over Ohio State

By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

The Indiana Hoosiers beat the Ohio State Buckeyes 71-65 Saturday Night in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers are 11-4 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play and will travel to Rutgers Tuesday Night to take on a Scarlet Knights team who lost at Iowa 86-77 and will come into the game with the Hoosiers 0-3 in the Big Ten and 8-6 overall. Ohio State is 12-3 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten and will play Wisconsin at Home on Wednesday Night. The Hoosiers lead the overall series 111-88 and have won two straight in series and last four at home with the Buckeyes dating back to 2020.

Malik Reneau scored 23 points and pulled down 7 rebounds to lead the Hoosiers. The Sophomore from Miami scored 19 points in the second half to lead the Hoosier charge in the second half. Xavier Johnson scored 18 points and C.J. Gunn scored 10 points off the bench. The Hoosiers finished 27-58 for 46% from the field, 5-12 from three-point range for 41% and 12-16 from the free throw line for 75%, The Hoosiers pulled down 27 rebounds, dished out 16 assists, 8 steals, 3 blocks and 4 turnovers. Xavier Johnson did not commit a turnover after having 4 in 14 minutes Wednesday Night at Nebraska as the Hoosiers committed 19 turnovers against the Cornhuskers. The Hoosiers scored 40 points in the paint and 13 Bench Points. Woodson was blunt in Johnson’s play at Nebraska, but the sixth-year senior responded and rose to the occasion on Saturday Night. “He was huge tonight; I gave him and C.J. the game ball” Mike Woodson said after the game. Johnson played his first game since getting hurt against Harvard in late November and was not happy with his play at Nebraska Wednesday Night. “I am a sixth-year guy. This team needs me. Coach expects more from me, I grew up tonight and I got to keep growing” Xavier Johnson said after the game.

Jamison Battle scored 17 points to lead the Buckeyes and hit five three pointers. Zed Key scored 11 points off the bench. Guards Bruce Thornton and Roddy Gayle Jr combined for 18 points with each scoring nine points apiece on 7-34 shooting and 0-12 from three-point range. Felix Okpara pulled down 15 rebounds and scored 6 points. The Buckeyes finished 25-69 from the field for 36%, 7-27 from three-point range for 25% and 8-9 from from the free throw line for 89%. The Buckeyes pulled down 49 rebounds, 13 assists, 9 blocks, 3 steals and committed 14 turnovers.

The Hoosiers lead 5-0 to start the game and led 15-13 with 11:54 left in the first half. Ohio State tied the game at 15-15 Bruce Thronton tying the game with 11:36 and then a Jamison Battle put Ohio State on top with 11:10 left as the Buckeyes went on a 12-0 run in next 3:31 as the Hoosiers ended a 3:52 scoring drought with Anthony Walker free throw and Kel’el Ware basket ended 4:56 field goal drought. Ohio State led until Xavier Johnson hit two free throws to put the Hoosiers in the lead 37-36 but Trey Galloway foul on Zed Key with .4 seconds left gave Key a chance to go to the free throw line and knock down two free throws to put the Hoosiers on top 38-37 at halftime.

In the second half Ohio State went on an 8-0 run to lead 46-37 with 18: 05 left in the second half. Reneau led a Hoosier 8-0 run scoring six of the eight points with Xavier Johnson scoring the other two on free throws as the Hoosiers were down 46-45 when Zed Key’s slam dunk put the Buckeyes up two before Reneau tied the game at 48-48 on a three pointer with 12:07 left. Ohio State led 52-50 when Xavier Johnson hit a three pointer to put the Hoosiers up 53-52 with 9:50 left and the Hoosiers outscored the Buckeyes 7-0 as Ohio State had a three and half minute scoring drought before Scotty Middleton’s basket ended the drought. The Hoosiers were able to lead the rest of the game and send the home crowd happy after a rough stretch in the first half and to start the second half that left the crowd a little restless. Indiana is 8-1 at home this season and now they need to show it on the road where they are 1-1 and 2-2 in neutral site games.