Indiana Earns Road Win at Michigan

Tuesday, December 5

Ann Arbor, Mich.

9:00 PM

Indiana University

7-1,2-0Big Ten

Michigan

4-5,0-1Big Ten

Indiana

Michigan

12/5/2023 11:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery Watch | Highlights Game Notes

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Tough minded?

Absolutely.

Clutch in crunch time on the road?

No doubt.

Indiana got big plays from those you'd expect (can you say Kel'el Ware and Malik Reneau?) and those maybe you wouldn't (CJ Gunn delivered a season-high eight points and four steals) in Tuesday night's 78-75 victory at Michigan (4-5 overall, 0-1 in the Big Ten).

That boosted the Hoosiers to 7-1 and 2-0.

In a game that featured 18 ties and 12 lead changes, the Hoosiers never blinked, even when facing a six-point deficit midway through the second half.

Indiana's first true road game resulted in 13 turnovers, but only three in the second half. It defended ferociously, scored efficiently. Nine Hoosiers played. Nine scored. Eight grabbed at least one rebound. The bench produced 28 points.

"It was a total team effort," coach Mike Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. "Our bench was great. They gave us some offense. From a defensive standpoint, we got stops and key rebounds when we needed them."

Limiting the second-half turnovers was crucial, Woodson told Fischer.

"That was the difference. I told them before the game, the only way you win on the road is you defend, rebound, and don't turn the ball over. Do those three things, you'll be in every game on the road and give yourself a chance.

"In the second half, we were better in that category."

Reneau totaled 15 points and six rebounds. The 7-foot Ware had 13 and eight along with the victory-clinching steal on Michigan's final in-bounds play.

"He's 7 foot tall," Woodson told Fischer. "(Associate head coach Kenya Hunter) said, stick his big butt on the ball, so we did."

Senior point guard Xavier Johnson was again sidelined with an injury. Freshman Gabe Cupps again replaced him in the starting lineup, and drew the defensive assignment of guarding Dug McDaniel, Michigan's leading scorer at 20.3 points. McDaniel finished with 13 points but was 3-for-14 from the field, 0-for-4 on 3-pointers.

Gunn was a difference maker as he hadn't been all season.

"He was making plays defensively," Woodson told Fischer. "It was nice to see him have a nice breakout game. He's had his ups and downs. I'm pleased with how he performed."

Woodson also praised Kaleb Banks (six points), Anthony Walker (eight points, 4-for-4 shooting, three rebounds) and Payton Sparks (six points) off the bench.

"They all were solid," Woodson told Fischer. "We need that. We're a little short with X being on the sideline. It's next man up. Guys have to step up and be ready to play."

IU set an early offensive tone by hitting four of its first five shots, with Ware scoring five points, that was enough for a 9-9 tie. Three turnovers prevented the Hoosiers from taking the lead.

A Ware dunk gave them an 11-9 lead, but the turnovers grew to six. The Hoosiers' defense limited the damage (Michigan was 1-for-10 from the field during the stretch) and they pushed ahead 15-9.

The Wolverines (4-5, 0-1) tied it at 15-15. Hot shooting, including a Gunn 3-pointer, gave IU a 22-17 lead.

The Hoosiers took a 28-21 lead with eight minutes left, and still led 33-29 on a pair of Cupps free throws and a Mackenzie Mgbako 3-pointer.

Michigan surged. IU made just one of its last eight shots of the half to trail 39-37 at halftime. Ware led with nine points.

Forward Olivier Nkamhoua scored Michigan's first eight points of the second half as it inched ahead 47-43. IU tied it at 49-49 on a Trey Galloway basket.

Michigan pushed ahead 59-53 with nine minutes left. The Hoosiers pushed back for a 60-59 lead on Gunn's second 3-pointer of the game.

A series of ties and lead changes followed. IU got key points from Reneau, Galloway, and Ware. A great post move and basket by Ware gave the Hoosiers a 75-73 lead in the closing seconds. The Wolverines got a free throw. Mgbako followed with a pair of free throws for a 77-74 lead with 5.4 seconds left. Galloway added a free throw to counter a Michigan free throw, and Ware blocked the Wolverines' in-bound pass and got the steal to seal the victory.

IU plays again on Saturday in Atlanta against Auburn.

"We'll go back, get some rest and start preparing for Auburn," Woodson told Fischer.