Saturday, December 9
Atlanta, Ga.
2:00 PM
Indiana University
7-2,2-0Big Ten
76
vs
104
Auburn
6-2,0-0SEC
1
2
F
Auburn
52
52
104
Indiana
34
42
76
Indiana Falls to Auburn at Holiday Hoopsgiving
12/9/2023 4:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ATLANTA – Indiana hit Auburn and the Tigers hit back.
The Hoosiers (7-2) couldn't return the favor Saturday afternoon at State Farm Arena.
The result was a 104-76 defeat that left coach Mike Woodson seeing an unwanted repeat from last month's loss to Connecticut.
"(Auburn) got their confidence going," he told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. "Once they smacked us around a little bit, we stopped playing. That's disappointing.
"It was like the UConn game. We finally stopped playing and UConn took advantage."
A dominating start dissolved against Auburn's defensive pressure and full-throttle style. The Tigers' 33-6 run turned a 12-point first-half deficit into an 18-point halftime lead.
It was too big a deficit to overcome.
"We came out ready to play," Woodson told Fischer. "We built a 12-point lead. The ball was moving. We got defensive stops. We rebounded. We did everything we set out to do.
"And then we just stopped playing."
The Hoosiers got a combined 38 points and 17 rebounds from inside players Malik Reneau, Kel'el Ware, and Mackenzie Mgbako.
It wasn't enough.
Not when Auburn (6-2) made 14 3-pointers, went 20-for-23 from the line and had 25 assists against just three turnovers.
"(Auburn) was aggressive from the tip," Woodson told Fischer. "On our first play, we couldn't move the ball. Eventually, we opened up, made some shots, and built the lead.
"Then we stopped playing. I haven't seen that much this season. But Auburn played well.
"They shot the 3 well. That was something they had been struggling to do. A lot of it was because we weren't (close to their shooters). And we only forced three turnovers. That showed how aggressive we were."
In other words, the Hoosiers weren't nearly aggressive enough.
IU blasted away its poor 3-point shooting reputation by opening the game with three-straight 3-pointers, and four in the first four minutes.
That hot 3-point shooting propelled it to a 16-6 lead in five minutes. Two minutes later, it was a 22-10 lead paced by Ware and Mgbako's combined 15 points.
Auburn rallied within four, then two, then a tie. It pushed ahead 32-26 as part of a 12-0 run before a Ware free throw ended it. The Tigers scored six more points for a 39-27 lead that became a 52-34 halftime advantage.
Could IU turn up its own defense, find its offense and rally?
IU forced a turnover in the opening seconds. Guard Trey Galloway drove for a basket. Auburn responded with three free throws.
The Hoosiers attacked the paint. Mgbako continued his hot free throw shooting (he's 21-for-21 on the season). Reneau scored inside. The defense forced the Tigers into a series of misses.
IU closed within 11. Momentum favored the Cream 'n Crimson.
Then it didn't.
Auburn responded with an 11-1 run, a 68-47 lead and control it never lost.
Now comes finals week and a next-Saturday home game against No. 2/3 Kansas.
"We've got a week to prepare and get ready for Kansas," Woodson told Fischer.
The Hoosiers (7-2) couldn't return the favor Saturday afternoon at State Farm Arena.
The result was a 104-76 defeat that left coach Mike Woodson seeing an unwanted repeat from last month's loss to Connecticut.
"(Auburn) got their confidence going," he told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. "Once they smacked us around a little bit, we stopped playing. That's disappointing.
"It was like the UConn game. We finally stopped playing and UConn took advantage."
A dominating start dissolved against Auburn's defensive pressure and full-throttle style. The Tigers' 33-6 run turned a 12-point first-half deficit into an 18-point halftime lead.
It was too big a deficit to overcome.
"We came out ready to play," Woodson told Fischer. "We built a 12-point lead. The ball was moving. We got defensive stops. We rebounded. We did everything we set out to do.
"And then we just stopped playing."
The Hoosiers got a combined 38 points and 17 rebounds from inside players Malik Reneau, Kel'el Ware, and Mackenzie Mgbako.
It wasn't enough.
Not when Auburn (6-2) made 14 3-pointers, went 20-for-23 from the line and had 25 assists against just three turnovers.
"(Auburn) was aggressive from the tip," Woodson told Fischer. "On our first play, we couldn't move the ball. Eventually, we opened up, made some shots, and built the lead.
"Then we stopped playing. I haven't seen that much this season. But Auburn played well.
"They shot the 3 well. That was something they had been struggling to do. A lot of it was because we weren't (close to their shooters). And we only forced three turnovers. That showed how aggressive we were."
In other words, the Hoosiers weren't nearly aggressive enough.
IU blasted away its poor 3-point shooting reputation by opening the game with three-straight 3-pointers, and four in the first four minutes.
That hot 3-point shooting propelled it to a 16-6 lead in five minutes. Two minutes later, it was a 22-10 lead paced by Ware and Mgbako's combined 15 points.
Auburn rallied within four, then two, then a tie. It pushed ahead 32-26 as part of a 12-0 run before a Ware free throw ended it. The Tigers scored six more points for a 39-27 lead that became a 52-34 halftime advantage.
Could IU turn up its own defense, find its offense and rally?
IU forced a turnover in the opening seconds. Guard Trey Galloway drove for a basket. Auburn responded with three free throws.
The Hoosiers attacked the paint. Mgbako continued his hot free throw shooting (he's 21-for-21 on the season). Reneau scored inside. The defense forced the Tigers into a series of misses.
IU closed within 11. Momentum favored the Cream 'n Crimson.
Then it didn't.
Auburn responded with an 11-1 run, a 68-47 lead and control it never lost.
Now comes finals week and a next-Saturday home game against No. 2/3 Kansas.
"We've got a week to prepare and get ready for Kansas," Woodson told Fischer.
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Team Stats
AUB
IND
FG%
.486
.429
3FG%
.483
.353
FT%
.870
.759
RB
39
35
TO
3
12
STL
8
2
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
8
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
Guard
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