Indiana Runs Past Rutgers, 76-57

Sunday, January 15

Bloomington, Ind.

12:00 P.M.

Indiana University

12-6, 2-3B1G

Rutgers

11-8, 0-6B1G

Rutgers

Indiana

1/15/2017 2:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana University men's basketball team took down the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 76-57, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind. on Sunday afternoon.

With the victory, Indiana improves to 12-6 on the season overall and to 2-3 in Big Ten conference play, while Rutgers falls to 11-8 on the year and to 0-6 in league action.

James Blackmon Jr. led the Hoosiers with 16 points, three rebounds and three assists, while OG Anunoby totaled 11 points, three rebounds and a career-high seven steals. Robert Johnson had 10 points and five rebounds in the win.

The Scarlet Knights got off to a fast start on Sunday afternoon, running out to an early, 15-6 lead at the 14:26 mark. The Hoosiers responded in a big way over the next six minutes, going on a 20-3 run to take an eight-point lead, 26-18, with just over eight minutes left.

After Rutgers cut the lead to just four, 27-23, IU went on another hot streak, out-scoring RU 10-0 over the next 2:16 minutes to push the lead to 37-23. At halftime, Indiana led Rutgers, 41-32.

Blackmon Jr. led the Hoosiers with nine points in the first half, while Thomas Bryant and Juwan Morgan each had seven. In the first 20 minutes, points off turnovers were huge for IU, as they out-scored the Scarlet Knights, 17-3, in the category after forcing 11 RU first-half turnovers.

Leading 45-36 with 17:30 left in the game, Indiana sealed the victory with an 11-2 run to take a 56-38 advantage with 13:01 remaining. Rutgers would come as close as 12 points down the stretch, but IU pulled away to earn the victory, 76-57.

For the Hoosiers, Morgan finished the contest with seven points, three rebounds and three blocks, while Bryant totaled eight points, three rebounds and a block. Josh Newkirk had six points and a game-high five assists, while De'Ron Davis recorded four points, five rebounds and a block for IU.

Indiana's defense was opportunistic on Sunday afternoon, totaling a season-high 14 steals that is the most for IU under head coach Tom Crean. IU caused 22 turnovers on the day, out-scoring Rutgers, 33-10, in points off turnovers and while also having a 21-2 advantage in fast break points.

The Indiana Hoosiers will return to the court on Wednesday, Jan. 18 when the team heads to University Park, Pa. to face Penn State. Tip-off is scheduled 7:00 p.m. ET with the game being broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.