Indiana Powers Past Kennesaw State

Friday, December 29

Bloomington, Ind.

6:00 PM

Indiana University

10-3,2-0Big Ten

100

Kennesaw State

9-5,0-0ASUN

Kennesaw St.

Indiana

100

12/29/2023 8:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Fast and furious?

You bet.

Missing two starters?

No problem.

Indiana (10-3) found its full-throttle form Friday night against up-tempo Kennesaw State (9-5) en route to a 100-87 victory at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

It was the first time the Hoosiers had reached 100 points this season, but it was the points allowed (including 17 3-pointers) that bothered coach Mike Woodson.

"It was too much offense, and I'm talking from a defensive standpoint," he told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. "I don't mind us scoring 100 points, but giving up 87, you have to tip your hat to Kennesaw State. They shot the hell out of the 3-ball. We have to get that fixed."

Cream 'n Crimson standouts were everywhere you looked given six Hoosiers scored in double figures and all nine who played scored.

Forward Malik Reneau had a career-high 34 points to go with 11 rebounds and four assists in 37 minutes. That followed his career-best 25 points last week against North Alabama.

"He played big minutes," Woodson told Fischer. "He had a hell of a game."

Added forward Kaleb Banks: "His work is showing. He's finally reaping the benefits of his work. He can do a lot of things -- rebound, pass, score. Tonight he really showed his scoring ability."

Reneau, a sophomore, is thriving after an up-and-down freshman season. He said he learned a lot from last year's senior forwards, Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson.

"I got motivation from Trayce and Race, and seeing how the played the whole Big Ten season and how they dominated. I just needed time to understand the game.

"Now, I'm playing nice and with my pace and being able to score either on the block and finish, or step out and create my shot with the 3-ball. My game is slowing down. Now, I'm able to create for myself and others."

Forward Mackenzie Mgbako had 14 points on 4-for-5 3-point shooting along with six rebounds. Guard Trey Galloway had 14 points and seven assists.

Forward Payton Sparks, once a double-double mainstay for Ball State, had 10 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks in just 14 minutes. His first Hoosier start came in replacing center Kel'el Ware, out due to illness.

"That's special for a guy who hasn't played a whole lot," Woodson told Fischer. "That next-man-up mentality helped us. He was ready to play."

Added Banks: "He was great. I'm very proud of him. He had a lot of game-changing plays, a nice put-back dunk. Some nice blocks. That was crazy for us. He really gave us some momentum."

Banks (12) and Anthony Walker (10) also scored in double figures.

IU blasted away a four-point, second-half deficit with a 17-3 run that restored a double-digit lead and, ultimately, secured the victory. It began when reserve guard Anthony Leal entered the game.

"He definitely had a spark off the bench," Reneau said. "He came in with so much energy, it rejuvenated us. He got us back to what we needed to do, which was get stops."

The run came after foul trouble forced the Owls out of their pressure man defense. The Hoosiers torched the zone. They shot 61% from the field and 47% from 3-point range. They also were 21-for-33 from the line to the Owls' 6-for-8.

"They were able to take the lead," Woodson told Fischer, "and then we woke up and played good defense coming down the stretch. That got us the cushion we needed to win."

Woodson wasn't happy about the 64% free-throw shooting.

"We've got to get better at making them," he told Fischer.

IU's 18 turnovers also were a concern. Kennesaw State scored 20 points off of them.

"We had unnecessary turnovers," Woodson told Fischer, "but those are fixable. I'm not alarmed about that."

Guard-oriented Kennesaw State played fast with a three-point-shooting mentality.

"They lead the country in three-point attempts," Reneau said. "We were trying to alter their shots and limit them to not a lot of attempts. They made 17, which kept them in the game.

"They're a fast-paced team. We had to stop their initial force."

IU was without center Ware (illness) and Xavier Johnson (injury).

Did that slow the offense?

Are you kidding?

The Hoosiers hit their first eight shots, including four 3-pointers, to set a blistering pace.

Mgbako opened with three three-pointers. Reneau had one. Sparks scored inside and blocked a couple of shots. The result -- IU bolted to an 18-8 lead in less than five minutes.

Mgbako's fourth 3-pointer pushed the Hoosiers ahead 27-16. They hit their first five 3-pointers.

With Mgbako and Reneau scoring at will, and offensive balance everywhere you looked (eight Hoosiers had played, eight had scored), IU led 37-23 with 7:44 left.

Then Kennesaw State ramped up its already fierce 3-point shooting. It had nine to cut the lead to two before a pair of Banks free throws gave the Hoosiers a 50-46 halftime lead.

Mgbako had 14 points. Reneau had 13.

Sparks kept IU ahead in the opening minutes of the second half with inside power. Still, three more Kennesaw State three-pointers, plus a pair of free throws from a technical foul on the Hoosier bench, pushed the Owls ahead 68-64.

The Hoosiers responded with a three-point play from Banks and a Reneau basket and free throw to spark a 10-0 run for a 74-68 lead with 10 minutes left.

Indiana never looked back.

Now comes a return to Big Ten play. The Hoosiers, with a conference-best 2-0 record, play at Nebraska on Wednesday.

The hope is to have Ware and Johnson. Johnson has missed seven straight games.

"Those are two big pieces to our team," Woodson told Fischer. "We're still gauging where X is, We're hoping the big fella will be back."