Friday, January 12
Bloomington, Ind.
6:30 PM
Indiana University
12-5,4-2Big Ten
74
vs
62
Minnesota
12-4,3-2Big Ten
1
2
F
Minnesota
31
31
62
Indiana
41
33
74
Hoosiers Handle Golden Gophers, 74-62
1/12/2024 8:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Once again, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall magic is, well, magical.
Once again, Indiana imposed its will on a streaking visiting opponent, this time Minnesota. It defended, scored, and dictated in Friday's night's 74-62 victory.
The result -- the Gophers' seven-game winning streak is over, and IU again showed signs of how good it can be if it can play as well on the road as it does at home, where it's 9-1 overall.
"You saw the intensity," center Kel'el Ware said. "If we bring that to every game, we'll be good."
IU (12-5 overall, 4-2 in the Big Ten) buried any lingering Rutgers disappointment from the opening tip. In the first four minutes, it committed no turnovers, scored 11 points, and forced a turnover.
A tone was set. Minnesota (12-4, 3-2) never challenged.
"It was our defense," coach Mike Woodson said. "Our scouting report fit perfectly. (Our players) followed it right from the start. We defended the ball. We didn't let their guards get away from us.
"We focused in on not giving up straight-line drives where we had to help. Our bigs did a good job of battling their bigs."
The Hoosiers got a second straight double-double from Ware, who is up to seven this season. He had 17 points and 14 rebounds.
They got impressive play from forwards Mackenzie Mgbako (a career-high 19 points, four rebounds) and Malik Reneau (16 points, six rebounds, three assists) and from guard Trey Galloway (10 points, seven assists).
Mgbako, a freshman, reached double figures for the second-straight game, and 10th time in 12 games. His season scoring average is up to 10.2 points.
On Friday night, he attacked from the opening tip, and never let down.
"He was aggressive from the start," Woodson said. "The whole team was aggressive on both ends."
Added Ware: "Even in practice, I'm always on him that he's got to get to the rim and get a bucket. If you do that in practice, it translates to the game. Be more aggressive."
Mgbako's improvement is fueled by defense.
"It's locking up on defense," he said. "That's the No. 1 thing Coach harps on. Defense creates offense.
"My defense has gotten better. I'm keeping my head on a swivel and talking on defense. Just being confident. Those are the things that are helping out."
Mgbako has made a big jump from scoring four points or less in four of his first five college games after a five-star high school career.
"I started slow," he said. "There's a big difference (from high school to college). Being able to grow under Coach Woodson has been good."
Added Woodson: "It takes these young guys a while to develop. It's not that easy to walk into college ball and be great. He's put the work in. All we can do is continue to teach and push and get as much out of him as we can."
Overall, IU shared the ball (17 assists) and forced the issue (a 16-10 edge in points off turnovers). It led for 39 minutes and 42 seconds, and never trailed.
Defensively, the Hoosiers forced 14 turnovers and held Minnesota to 39.0% shooting.
Two main concerns – IU was just 16-for-27 from the free throw line and was outrebounded 42-40 – weren't factors.
Guard Xavier Johnson didn't start. Freshman Gabe Cupps did.
Johnson came in after eight minutes. He finished with two points, one rebound, and one assist in 17 minutes.
Cupps didn't score, but defended tenaciously, starting with Minnesota guard Elijah Hawkins, who was held to five points on 2-for-12 shooting.
"He's done it before," Woodson said. "He's been doing it all season. We stick him on quick guards. All we ask is for him to put heat on the ball and not let it get downhill. He did a hell of job."
IU opened with 3-pointers from Galloway and Mgbako, forced a couple of Minnesota turnovers, and jumped to an 11-2 lead. A 10-0 edge in points off turnovers boosted it to a 25-8 lead eight minutes into the game. Mgbako and Galloway set the pace with a combined 15 points.
A 10-0 Gopher run cut the lead to five. Anthony Walker ended that with a basket off a Cupps assist. Ware added a 3-pointer and IU led 33-23 with five minutes left.
Mgbako's four-straight points made it a 37-27 lead with just under four minutes left in the half.
Mgbako's 14 points and a 7-to-1 assist to turnover ratio boosted IU to a 41-31 halftime lead. It had an 11-3 advantage on points off turnovers.
IU's second half strategy centered on getting Ware and Reneau the ball. They combined to score the Hoosiers' nine points to build a 50-35 lead. Galloway and Mgbako followed with 3-pointers and the lead swelled to 21.
With 13:53 left, the Hoosiers had control they never lost.
Next up is Tuesday's home game against rival Purdue before a grueling road swing to Wisconsin and Illinois, the Big Ten's top two teams in the standings. That stretch might determine if the Hoosiers can contend for a conference title.
"The road is tough on everybody," Woodson said. "It's not just our team. Everybody is having a tough time winning on the road.
"We have to figure it out. Our safe haven is here. We have to continue to win at home and feel good about playing on the road.
"We have to convert how we play here to how we play on the road. That will be the difference."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Once again, Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall magic is, well, magical.
Once again, Indiana imposed its will on a streaking visiting opponent, this time Minnesota. It defended, scored, and dictated in Friday's night's 74-62 victory.
The result -- the Gophers' seven-game winning streak is over, and IU again showed signs of how good it can be if it can play as well on the road as it does at home, where it's 9-1 overall.
"You saw the intensity," center Kel'el Ware said. "If we bring that to every game, we'll be good."
IU (12-5 overall, 4-2 in the Big Ten) buried any lingering Rutgers disappointment from the opening tip. In the first four minutes, it committed no turnovers, scored 11 points, and forced a turnover.
A tone was set. Minnesota (12-4, 3-2) never challenged.
"It was our defense," coach Mike Woodson said. "Our scouting report fit perfectly. (Our players) followed it right from the start. We defended the ball. We didn't let their guards get away from us.
"We focused in on not giving up straight-line drives where we had to help. Our bigs did a good job of battling their bigs."
The Hoosiers got a second straight double-double from Ware, who is up to seven this season. He had 17 points and 14 rebounds.
They got impressive play from forwards Mackenzie Mgbako (a career-high 19 points, four rebounds) and Malik Reneau (16 points, six rebounds, three assists) and from guard Trey Galloway (10 points, seven assists).
Mgbako, a freshman, reached double figures for the second-straight game, and 10th time in 12 games. His season scoring average is up to 10.2 points.
On Friday night, he attacked from the opening tip, and never let down.
"He was aggressive from the start," Woodson said. "The whole team was aggressive on both ends."
Added Ware: "Even in practice, I'm always on him that he's got to get to the rim and get a bucket. If you do that in practice, it translates to the game. Be more aggressive."
Mgbako's improvement is fueled by defense.
"It's locking up on defense," he said. "That's the No. 1 thing Coach harps on. Defense creates offense.
"My defense has gotten better. I'm keeping my head on a swivel and talking on defense. Just being confident. Those are the things that are helping out."
Mgbako has made a big jump from scoring four points or less in four of his first five college games after a five-star high school career.
"I started slow," he said. "There's a big difference (from high school to college). Being able to grow under Coach Woodson has been good."
Added Woodson: "It takes these young guys a while to develop. It's not that easy to walk into college ball and be great. He's put the work in. All we can do is continue to teach and push and get as much out of him as we can."
Overall, IU shared the ball (17 assists) and forced the issue (a 16-10 edge in points off turnovers). It led for 39 minutes and 42 seconds, and never trailed.
Defensively, the Hoosiers forced 14 turnovers and held Minnesota to 39.0% shooting.
Two main concerns – IU was just 16-for-27 from the free throw line and was outrebounded 42-40 – weren't factors.
Guard Xavier Johnson didn't start. Freshman Gabe Cupps did.
Johnson came in after eight minutes. He finished with two points, one rebound, and one assist in 17 minutes.
Cupps didn't score, but defended tenaciously, starting with Minnesota guard Elijah Hawkins, who was held to five points on 2-for-12 shooting.
"He's done it before," Woodson said. "He's been doing it all season. We stick him on quick guards. All we ask is for him to put heat on the ball and not let it get downhill. He did a hell of job."
IU opened with 3-pointers from Galloway and Mgbako, forced a couple of Minnesota turnovers, and jumped to an 11-2 lead. A 10-0 edge in points off turnovers boosted it to a 25-8 lead eight minutes into the game. Mgbako and Galloway set the pace with a combined 15 points.
A 10-0 Gopher run cut the lead to five. Anthony Walker ended that with a basket off a Cupps assist. Ware added a 3-pointer and IU led 33-23 with five minutes left.
Mgbako's four-straight points made it a 37-27 lead with just under four minutes left in the half.
Mgbako's 14 points and a 7-to-1 assist to turnover ratio boosted IU to a 41-31 halftime lead. It had an 11-3 advantage on points off turnovers.
IU's second half strategy centered on getting Ware and Reneau the ball. They combined to score the Hoosiers' nine points to build a 50-35 lead. Galloway and Mgbako followed with 3-pointers and the lead swelled to 21.
With 13:53 left, the Hoosiers had control they never lost.
Next up is Tuesday's home game against rival Purdue before a grueling road swing to Wisconsin and Illinois, the Big Ten's top two teams in the standings. That stretch might determine if the Hoosiers can contend for a conference title.
"The road is tough on everybody," Woodson said. "It's not just our team. Everybody is having a tough time winning on the road.
"We have to figure it out. Our safe haven is here. We have to continue to win at home and feel good about playing on the road.
"We have to convert how we play here to how we play on the road. That will be the difference."
Team Stats
MINN
IND
FG%
.390
.433
3FG%
.150
.429
FT%
.542
.593
RB
42
40
TO
14
10
STL
7
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
5
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballCenter
/ Men's BasketballFB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 2 (Kennesaw State)
Thursday, September 04
FB: D'Angelo Ponds Media Availability (9/2/25)
Tuesday, September 02
FB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (9/2/25)
Tuesday, September 02
Indiana University Athletics: Hoosier the Bison's First Entrance
Saturday, August 30