Sunday, November 26
Indianapolis, Ind.
4:30 PM
Indiana University
5-1,0-0Big Ten
89
vs
76
Harvard
5-2,0-0Ivy Leag
1
2
F
Harvard
40
36
76
Indiana
39
50
89
Indiana Handles Harvard in Indy
11/26/2023 6:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Indiana Handles Harvard in Indy
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
INDIANAPOLIS – Kel'el Ware dominated and we have seen this before.
Mackenzie Mgbako dominated and this was new, suggesting it will soon become the norm.
They were part of an inside barrage that wore down Harvard 89-76 Sunday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and offered a hint of what the Hoosiers (5-1) can become.
"As long as we play hard," Ware said, "we'll be good."
Ware, a 7-foot sophomore forward, had a career-high 28 points, plus eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Mgbako, a 6-8 freshman forward, set career highs with 18 points and eight rebounds.
After a two-point, one-rebound showing against Connecticut, Mgbako followed with nine points and a rebound against Louisville before Sunday's assertive showing.
"He's a freshman and he's been working," coach Mike Woodson said. "Hopefully, this will be a nice carry over to the next game."
IU had a 34-26 rebounding advantage, including 11 offensive rebounds. That reflect a season-long rebounding emphasis that is starting to pay off.
"It's staying in shape and constantly working," Ware said. "We have to box out. It's getting a body on a body. Being physical and getting a rebound."
Added Mgbako: "It's staying strong and staying active. If we do that, we can get some boards."
Harvard (5-2) came in with a strong three-point-shooting resume and delivered an 8-for-17 first-half blitz for a 40-39 halftime lead.
Woodson's message was clear -- defend the three-better, keep up its in-the-paint dominance.
Mission accomplished (Harvard was 1-for-8 from behind the arc in the final 20 minutes; IU finished with a 50-28 edge in points in the paint).
Woodson said some of the Crimson's early three-pointers came because the Hoosiers weren't diving on the floor for loose balls.
"That can't happen."
He said the other three-pointers came because the Hoosiers weren't guarding close enough.
"We did a better job of getting up to touch them (in the second half)," he said.
Harvard's zone couldn't keep the Hoosiers out of the paint.
"Our bigs have worked well together when teams play zone," Woodson said. "Moving forward, teams will play zone some. They will press some. They will double the post some. You have to combat it and execute and put the ball in the hole."
Added Mgbako: "The key to attacking a zone is getting it inside so we can run the high-low game. Bigs are essential to beating a zone because they are such a threat."
IU overcame some injuries. Guard Xavier Johnson missed the second half with an ankle/foot injury suffered late in the first half while completing a three-point play (he finished with three points, a rebound and an assist). Forward Malik Reneau briefly went to the locker room holding onto his back. He returned to finish with 17 points, five assists and four rebounds.
Johnson's injury gave seldom-used guard Anthony Leal an opportunity. He totaled one rebound and one assist in six minutes. Gabe Cupps added two points, three rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes.
"Losing X is a big loss," Woodson said. "He's a big piece to the puzzle.
"For me, it's always next man up. Guys have to stay ready and step up. Anthony gave us some positive minutes. Gabe brought it home.
"We'll see where we are with X. We need him to be healthy to help us win."
Mgbako's six early points pushed IU to a 12-10 lead. The Crimson's fourth three-pointer forged a 15-15. They inched ahead by two, then four, then six.
A Mgbako three-pointer (after two earlier ones were changed to twos) and a Ware dunk off a Reneau assist made it a 24-23 Harvard lead with eight minutes left. Four more Ware points gave the Hoosiers a three-point lead.
Harvard twice surged ahead by two. Johnson's three-point play put IU ahead 34-31. Ware followed with a dunk. The Crimson followed that with their sixth three-pointer.
A Kaleb Banks three-pointer gave the Hoosiers a 39-34 lead. Consecutive Harvard three-pointers followed for a 40-39 Crimson halftime lead.
Ware led IU with 12 points. Mgbako had nine.
Harvard opened the second half with a pair of early four-point leads. Reneau started strong with four points, but an injury briefly sent him to the locker room. Johnson was already out with ice on his ankle/foot.
Still, baskets from forward Anthony Walker and Mgbako pushed the Hoosiers ahead 47-45. A Ware three-pointer gave them a five-point lead. A Reneau basket followed by an Mgbako rebound basket and free throw gave Indiana a 63-51 lead with 13 minutes left.
With the Hoosiers dominating the paint, Harvard never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.
IU's next game is Friday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall against Maryland in its Big Ten opener.
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
INDIANAPOLIS – Kel'el Ware dominated and we have seen this before.
Mackenzie Mgbako dominated and this was new, suggesting it will soon become the norm.
They were part of an inside barrage that wore down Harvard 89-76 Sunday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse and offered a hint of what the Hoosiers (5-1) can become.
"As long as we play hard," Ware said, "we'll be good."
Ware, a 7-foot sophomore forward, had a career-high 28 points, plus eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Mgbako, a 6-8 freshman forward, set career highs with 18 points and eight rebounds.
After a two-point, one-rebound showing against Connecticut, Mgbako followed with nine points and a rebound against Louisville before Sunday's assertive showing.
"He's a freshman and he's been working," coach Mike Woodson said. "Hopefully, this will be a nice carry over to the next game."
IU had a 34-26 rebounding advantage, including 11 offensive rebounds. That reflect a season-long rebounding emphasis that is starting to pay off.
"It's staying in shape and constantly working," Ware said. "We have to box out. It's getting a body on a body. Being physical and getting a rebound."
Added Mgbako: "It's staying strong and staying active. If we do that, we can get some boards."
Harvard (5-2) came in with a strong three-point-shooting resume and delivered an 8-for-17 first-half blitz for a 40-39 halftime lead.
Woodson's message was clear -- defend the three-better, keep up its in-the-paint dominance.
Mission accomplished (Harvard was 1-for-8 from behind the arc in the final 20 minutes; IU finished with a 50-28 edge in points in the paint).
Woodson said some of the Crimson's early three-pointers came because the Hoosiers weren't diving on the floor for loose balls.
"That can't happen."
He said the other three-pointers came because the Hoosiers weren't guarding close enough.
"We did a better job of getting up to touch them (in the second half)," he said.
Harvard's zone couldn't keep the Hoosiers out of the paint.
"Our bigs have worked well together when teams play zone," Woodson said. "Moving forward, teams will play zone some. They will press some. They will double the post some. You have to combat it and execute and put the ball in the hole."
Added Mgbako: "The key to attacking a zone is getting it inside so we can run the high-low game. Bigs are essential to beating a zone because they are such a threat."
IU overcame some injuries. Guard Xavier Johnson missed the second half with an ankle/foot injury suffered late in the first half while completing a three-point play (he finished with three points, a rebound and an assist). Forward Malik Reneau briefly went to the locker room holding onto his back. He returned to finish with 17 points, five assists and four rebounds.
Johnson's injury gave seldom-used guard Anthony Leal an opportunity. He totaled one rebound and one assist in six minutes. Gabe Cupps added two points, three rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes.
"Losing X is a big loss," Woodson said. "He's a big piece to the puzzle.
"For me, it's always next man up. Guys have to stay ready and step up. Anthony gave us some positive minutes. Gabe brought it home.
"We'll see where we are with X. We need him to be healthy to help us win."
Mgbako's six early points pushed IU to a 12-10 lead. The Crimson's fourth three-pointer forged a 15-15. They inched ahead by two, then four, then six.
A Mgbako three-pointer (after two earlier ones were changed to twos) and a Ware dunk off a Reneau assist made it a 24-23 Harvard lead with eight minutes left. Four more Ware points gave the Hoosiers a three-point lead.
Harvard twice surged ahead by two. Johnson's three-point play put IU ahead 34-31. Ware followed with a dunk. The Crimson followed that with their sixth three-pointer.
A Kaleb Banks three-pointer gave the Hoosiers a 39-34 lead. Consecutive Harvard three-pointers followed for a 40-39 Crimson halftime lead.
Ware led IU with 12 points. Mgbako had nine.
Harvard opened the second half with a pair of early four-point leads. Reneau started strong with four points, but an injury briefly sent him to the locker room. Johnson was already out with ice on his ankle/foot.
Still, baskets from forward Anthony Walker and Mgbako pushed the Hoosiers ahead 47-45. A Ware three-pointer gave them a five-point lead. A Reneau basket followed by an Mgbako rebound basket and free throw gave Indiana a 63-51 lead with 13 minutes left.
With the Hoosiers dominating the paint, Harvard never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.
IU's next game is Friday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall against Maryland in its Big Ten opener.
Team Stats
HU
IND
FG%
.433
.571
3FG%
.346
.267
FT%
.833
.765
RB
26
34
TO
13
12
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
28
FGM
12
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
17
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's BasketballCenter
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