Minnesota botches Golden Opportunity in Home Loss to Indiana  

By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

   The Indiana Hoosiers beat the Minnesota Golden Gophers 70-58 Wednesday Night at Williams Arena in Minneapolis. The Hoosiers have won three straight and improve to 17-13 overall and 9-10 in the Big Ten with one more regular season game left which will be Sunday afternoon when they host Michigan State at 4:30pm. Minnesota drops to 18-12 overall and 9-10 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers sweep Minnesota this season and have won eight (8) in a row dating back to 2020 and lead the all-time series 109-69.

   The Hoosiers got 26 points and 11 rebounds from Kel’el Ware for his 13th double-double of the season. Trey Galloway scored 13 points and dished out 11 assists for his first double-double of the season. Mackenize Mgbako added 15 points, Malik Reneau scored 8 points, Anthony Walker scored 6 points and Xavier Johnson added two points. The Hoosiers were 30-55 from the field for 54%, 5-8 from three-point range for 62% and 5-7 from the free throw line for 71%. Indiana pulled down 26 rebounds, dished out 28 assists on 30 made baskets, 12 steals, 5 blocks and committed 14 turnovers.

   Minnesota missed out on a golden opportunity for an NCAA Tournament bid with this loss. Parker Fox scored 14 points off the bench to lead the Golden Gophers. Mike Mitchell Jr scored 13 points and Dawson Garcia added 12 points and 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Minnesota was 22-57 from the field for 38%, 5-26 from three-point range for 26% and 9-14 from the free throw line for 63%. The Golden Gophers pulled down 36 rebounds, 12 assists, 11 steals, 3 blocks and committed 18 turnovers.

   Indiana jumped out to 8-0 lead before the Gophers scored the next six points. Minnesota took its first lead with 13:08 left in the first half on a Mike Mitchell Jr. layup to make it 13-12. The Golden Gophers extended the lead to 15-12 on a Parker Fox layup at the 12:57 mark. Minnesota would hold on to lead until the 5:59 mark when Mackenize Mgbako scored to make it 24-23 Hoosiers to start a 6-0 run as the Hoosiers went to the locker room up 30-25.

   In the Second Half Indiana never trailed and extended the lead to double digits with 13:27 left making it 31-20. Minnesota cut the lead to nine points at the 12:56 mark 41-32. Mackenize Mgbako drilled back-to-back three pointers to give the Hoosiers a 15-point lead 47-32 with 11:40 left in the game. Indiana led 59-40 with 6:40 left and put the game out of reach. Indiana outscored Minnesota 40-33. The Hoosiers can finish the Big Ten at .500 and still have a chance at the NCAA Tournament given a strong run in the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. Michigan State beat Northwestern 53-49 Wednesday Night in East Lansing will come in 18-12 overall and 10-9 in the Big Ten.

   The Hoosiers are putting their best basketball together in what has been an up and down season. Indiana is showing a better inside presence and not settling for outside shots along with sharing the basketball. Indiana will be in a postseason tournament, but it all depends on if they can keep this winning streak going heading into the Big Ten Tournament.