Hoosiers Topple Scarlet Knights for Second Straight Win

Tuesday, February 7

Bloomington, Ind.

6:30 PM

Indiana University

17-7,8-5Big Ten

Rutgers

16-8,8-5Big Ten

Rutgers

Indiana

Hoosiers Topple Scarlet Knights for Second Straight Win

2/7/2023 8:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMIGTON, Ind. -- A shoe was lost, a game wasn't.

Not with Indiana surging up the national rankings and Big Ten standings like a team on a mission.

This time it was No. 24 Rutgers, a nemesis no more, beaten by a 66-60 score Tuesday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

That gave the No. 18 Hoosiers (17-7 overall, 8-5 in the Big Ten) seven victories in eight games and a share of second place. It also snapped a six-game losing streak to the Scarlet Knights (16-8, 8-5).

"It's very important," senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis said about beating Rutgers for the first time in his career. "They're a tough team. They always bring it. They have a lot pieces.

"To finally get over that hump is big for us. We have to keep moving forward."

The Hoosiers did everything they didn't do in December's first meeting -- win the rebound battle 35-31, defend harder (outshooting the Scarlet Knights 46 percent to 40), out-tough the visitors in key moments and play them to a virtual second chance-points standstill (losing 14-13).

And if they went more than eight late second-half minutes without a field goal, well, sometimes you have to find a way.

"There's no quit in our team," coach Mike Woodson said. "We kept grinding and grinding. We got stops when we needed them. They try to do whatever it takes to win. Tonight, they did that."

Beyond that, Jackson-Davis became the first IU player to score 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds when he totaled 20 points, 18 rebounds, six assists and one lost shoe. He now has 2,004 points and 1,035 rebounds.

Given the rarity of four-year standout players in 21st Century college basketball, he might be the last.

"It's unbelievable," said Woodson, himself a 2,000-point Hoosier scorer. "This young man has done a lot since he's been wearing the uniform. I couldn't be prouder of a player. He's beautiful to watch."

Added Jackson-Davis: "I know about the numbers, but I don't pay that much attention now. There's a lot of season left, a lot more to focus on. We're trying to win. When my career is over, I will reflect on it."

Senior Miller Kopp has watched Jackson-Davis for four years, two at Northwestern, the last two as a teammate.

"It's dominance," Kopp said. "Consistency. You not only have to be really good, but you also have to be consistent.

"I remember playing against him as a freshman. The dude has been doing this since then. To do it year after year shows a lot."

Kopp complemented Jackson-Davis Tuesday night with 18 points on 4-for-6 three-point shooting.

"He got good looks," Woodson said. "They didn't get to him in the zone, and he made them pay. Most teams don't give him many good looks. I wouldn't either.

"It's not just his scoring. He was good defensively. He did a lot of good things."

Rutgers thrived on physical play. It had out-toughed IU in the first meeting, and threatened to do it in the second half, when the Hoosiers' 12-point, second-half lead was cut to three in the final three minutes.

That physicality included Rutgers forward Clifford Omoruyi running over guard Trey Galloway for a late-second-half foul. Galloway didn't flinch. Neither did the Hoosiers.

"We started looking over our shoulders when they cut the lead to three," Woodson said, "but we made free throws and started to make plays."

The Scarlet Knights were without starting forward Mawot Mag, who was lost for the season with a knee injury suffered Saturday against Michigan State.

IU unleashed a couple of acrobatic shots from Jackson-Davis and guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, plus a Kopp three-pointer, to open a 12-6 lead in less than five minutes.

The Hoosiers defended Rutgers into a shot-clock violation. Tamar Bates hit a three-pointer. Malik Reneau scored inside. Jackson-Davis dunked. Kopp scored five straight points. Jackson-Davis dunked again. IU led 27-14 with eight minutes left in the first half.

After a pair of Scarlet Knight three-pointers, Jackson-Davis rebounded a Rutgers missed shot, drove the length of the floor for a spinning layup, then followed that with his third dunk of the game and a 36-24 lead. The Scarlet Knights rallied behind their three-point shooting (6-for-11) to trail 38-35 at halftime.

Rutgers tied the score with a second-half-opening three-pointer. IU ratcheted up the defense for leads of 49-40 and 54-44.

The Scarlet Knights closed within six, then five, then three at 59-56 as the clock ticked under three minutes. The Hoosiers went more than eight minutes without a field goal before Jackson-Davis rebounded a Race Thompson miss and scored.

Galloway added a layup. Jackson-Davis and Kopp made free throws. It was enough.

"We couldn't get going from an offensive standpoint coming down the stretch," Woodson said. "We became stagnant and lethargic.

"In the first half we free flowed. In the second half we looked tired. We didn't have any pop coming down the stretch. I have to get us over the hump when I see that."

IU's next game is Saturday at Michigan.

"This is how we've been playing," Jackson-Davis said. "They were playing us tough, and we were tough right back. They muddy it up. We got the best of it, but they made it a game the whole time."