Indiana University
11-3
Rutgers
6-8
Reserves Step Up, IU Defeats Rutgers
12/30/2015 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - With sophomore guard James Blackmon Jr. unavailable with a knee injury and freshman center Thomas Bryant in foul trouble, Indiana needed to rely on its depth in its Big Ten season-opener against Rutgers.
Max Bielfeldt and Collin Hartman answered the call.
Bielfeldt, a fifth-year senior, had 18 points and 14 rebounds off the bench in the post to lead the Hoosiers to a 82-72 win. Hartman, a junior guard, had nine points to jumpstart the Hoosiers' offense in the opening minutes as a starter in place of Blackmon.
Indiana needed evert bit of their production to compensate for Rutgers' 37 points off 23 turnovers and thwart the Scarlet Knights' mid-game run. Indiana head coach Tom Crean said that although the turnovers made the margin too close for comfort, he was pleased with the way his team was able to overcome them and walk out of the Rutgers Athletic Center with a win.
"Like I tell them all, 'If you're good enough to play at Indiana, you're good enough to impact the game,'" Crean told Don Fischer postgame. "We don't want guys who are going to lose the game for us. We want guys who are going to help us win the game."
Rutgers freshman guard Corey Sanders connected on a 3-pointer just over four minutes into the second half to give the Scarlet Knights (6-8, 0-1) their first and only lead of the game, 44-43. The Hoosiers (11-3, 1-0) responded with a 14-2 run over the next 4:53 to take a 57-46 lead and regain control.
The Scarlet Knights came within six points with 3:44 left to play but weren't able to come any closer before the Hoosiers closed the game out at the free-throw line.
"Most importantly, today the guys never got down," Crean said. "They never got down spirit-wise, they played with passion, they continued to help one another, and that has got to be what happens."
Bielfeldt's double-double was his most-efficient performance at Indiana to date. His 18 points matched a career-best mark previously set against Bucknell last season as a member of the Michigan Wolverines while his 14 rebounds set a new career high.
He converted 8-of-14 shots, mostly around the rim, taking advantage of Rutgers' own lack of height and depth in the frontcourt. His output—Crean called it a triple-double because of his 11 deflections—was more than enough to replace the typical production the Hoosiers have become used to seeing from Bryant, who was limited to just six minutes.
"Max came out with a tremendous game," Crean said. "We're excited about that, because last year against Rutgers, Max had 22 points and 18 rebounds in two games with Michigan. We knew he had a chance there, but he had a tremendous game."
Indiana won't have much time to reflect on its win. The Hoosiers will stay on the road and travel to play Nebraska at 4 p.m. Saturday. With travel, that makes for a quick turnaround that Crean said he's more than fine with.
"We don't want much time," Crean said. "I think what we have to do now is improve. I've got a list in my head, and started on the game planning for Nebraska on this trip."
