Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Basketball Game Notes – Game 26 vs. Nebraska
2/20/2024 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Opening Tip
• Indiana University continues its 124th season of competition in men's basketball with a Wednesday night game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Tip is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 21 on BTN.
• Senior guard Keisei Tominaga scores a team-best 14.1 points per game on the strength of a Husker-high 53 made 3-pointers.
• Junior forward Rienk Mast leads the team in both assists (3.1 per game) and rebounds (8.1) while scoring 13.5 points per outing.
• Nebraska is led by fifth-year head coach Fred Hoiberg, who is one of three coaches in the Big Ten to have played in the NBA. He joins Indiana head coach Mike Woodson and Michigan's Juwan Howard.
Game Information
Wednesday Feb. 21, 2024 • 8:30 p.m. ET
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222) • Bloomington, Ind.
TV: BTN (Kevin Kugler, Shon Morris)
Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
Series History: Indiana leads, 19-8
Last Meeting: NEB 86, IU 70 on Jan. 3, 2024, in Lincoln
Series History
• Indiana holds an advantage of 19-8 in the abbreviated series history with Nebraska and have won seven of the last eight matchups between the two programs.
• IU has secured wins in each of the last three matchups against the Cornhuskers in Bloomington with an average margin of victory of 12.3 points per game.
• The two sides met in an 86-70 Nebraska win on Jan. 3 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Sophomore center Kel'el Ware posted a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double to pair with two steals and two blocks. The Huskers converted 12-of-32 attempts from behind the 3-point line.
Last Time Out
• Indiana trailed by as many as 16 points with less than seven minutes to play before mounting a spirited comeback that fell just short in a 76-72 loss to Northwestern on Feb. 18 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware became the seventh player in Division I basketball this season to post a line of 20-plus points, 15-plus rebounds, and four-plus blocks after providing the Hoosier attack with 22 points, 16 boards, and four blocked shots. The game marked his fifth of the season with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. Four of the games have come in Big Ten play.
• Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako scored a career-high 20 points, while senior guard Trey Galloway became the first Hoosier in nearly two full seasons to dish out 12 assists.
• The Hoosiers outperformed the Wildcats in paint points (38-26) and points on the break (14-0).
Big Man Transformation
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware, a transfer from Oregon, has upped his scoring (from 6.6 points to 15.0), rebounds (4.1 to 9.4), assists (0.5 to 1.6), and field goal percentage (45.7% to 56.8%) in his second season. He leads the Hoosiers in rebounds and blocks in 31 minutes per game.
• Ware has scored at least 10 points in 18 games this year after producing just eight such games as a rookie. The 7-footer has ripped down at least 10 boards 10 times this season, including three games over 15 boards.
• In 12 conference games, Ware is averaging a team-high 15.1 points on 59.7% (74-of-124) shooting from the floor and 50.0% (8-of-16) from the 3-point line. He is also averaging 10.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per night. He is one of three players (Zach Edey, Purdue; Julian Reese, Maryland) to average a double-double in B1G play.
• Ware tallied a career-high 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting from the floor in an 89-76 win over Harvard (Nov. 26) in Indianapolis. The 92.3% shooting split marked the highest by a Hoosier with at least 10 made field goals this century.
• Against Northwestern, Ware posted 22 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocked shots. He is one of seven players across Division I hoops this season to produce a line with at least 20 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks.
Mack Attack
• Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako has made a team-high 34 3-pointers this season. Over the last 14 games he is shooting 26-of-67 (38.8%) from behind the arc and is averaging 12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
• Mgbako scored 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor against Minnesota (Jan. 12) to go along with four rebounds and two assists. The Roselle Catholic graduate upped his career high to 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor against Northwestern (Feb. 18). He posted his first career double-double with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds at No. 10/11 Illinois (Jan. 27).
• The consensus top-10 recruit is averaging 12.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in Big Ten play. He has reached double figures in the scoring column in 17 of the last 20 games.
• Among freshmen in the Big Ten, Mgbako is first in total points (282) and free throws made (68), second in points per game (11.3) and made 3-pointers (34), and third in total rebounds (102).
Follow the Gallo-Way
• Senior guard Trey Galloway is one of four players in the Big Ten to average at least 10.0 points, 3.5 assists, and 1.0 steal per game while committing less than 2.0 turnovers per outing. He joins A.J. Hoggard (Michigan State), Bruce Thornton (Ohio State), and Tony Perkins (Iowa) on the exclusive list.
• Galloway has dished out 78 total assists (5.6 per game) in his last 14 outings dating back to Dec. 21, 2023, to go against just 28 turnovers (2.79 assist-to-turnover ratio). He handed out a career-high 12 helpers against Northwestern (Feb. 18). For his career, the Hoosiers are 13-5 in the 18 games 'Gallo' has handed out at least five dimes.
• He is averaging a career-best 10.9 points per game, including a career-high 28 points against No. 2/2 Kansas (Dec. 16). He converted 12-of-17 shots in the contest. He scored a Big Ten career-high 25 points (19 in the second half) at Ohio State (Feb. 6) while leading IU to an 18-point comeback victory.
Comeback Effort Falls Short against Wildcats
• Indiana held Northwestern to 35.4% (23-of-65) shooting from the floor in a 76-72 loss in Bloomington on Feb. 18. The Hoosiers nearly erased a 16-point deficit with 6:17 to play but were never able to get closer than four points.
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware scored a team-high 22 points to go along with 16 rebounds and four blocks. Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako tallied a career-high 20 points (19 in the second half), while senior guard Trey Galloway dished out a career-best 12 assists.
Hoosiers Lose to Boilers in Mackey Arena
• Indiana dropped a 79-59 contest at No. 2/2 Purdue on Feb. 10. Three Hoosier starters reached double figures in freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako (12 points), sophomore center Kel'el Ware (11), and senior guard Trey Galloway (10).
• Sophomore guard CJ Gunn scored a career-high 13 points on 3-of-4 shooting from behind the arc. He also dished out three assists in 20 minutes off the bench. Gunn and fifth-year senior forward Anthony Walker combined for 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor. The duo helped IU's bench outscore the Boilers, 20-15.
Double Double, Double Double (CAREER)
Payton Sparks: 22; last vs. Toledo, 3/3/23
Kel'el Ware: 10; vs. Northwestern, 2/18/24
Xavier Johnson: 4; last vs. Arizona, 12/10/22
Anthony Walker: 4; last at Clemson, 2/27/21
Malik Reneau: 2; last at Ohio State, 2/7/24
Mackenzie Mgbako: 1; at Illinois, 1/27/24
Twenty Piece (CAREER)
Xavier Johnson: 21; last vs. North Carolina, 11/30/22
Payton Sparks: 9; last vs. Ohio, 3/9/23
Kel'el Ware: 7; last vs. Northwestern, 2/18/24
Malik Reneau: 6; last at Ohio State, 2/7/24
Trey Galloway: 3; last at Ohio State, 2/7/24
Mackenzie Mgbako: 1; vs. Northwestern, 2/18/24
@IndianaMBB
For all the latest on Indiana University men's basketball, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMBB on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
• Indiana University continues its 124th season of competition in men's basketball with a Wednesday night game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Tip is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on Feb. 21 on BTN.
• Senior guard Keisei Tominaga scores a team-best 14.1 points per game on the strength of a Husker-high 53 made 3-pointers.
• Junior forward Rienk Mast leads the team in both assists (3.1 per game) and rebounds (8.1) while scoring 13.5 points per outing.
• Nebraska is led by fifth-year head coach Fred Hoiberg, who is one of three coaches in the Big Ten to have played in the NBA. He joins Indiana head coach Mike Woodson and Michigan's Juwan Howard.
Game Information
Wednesday Feb. 21, 2024 • 8:30 p.m. ET
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (17,222) • Bloomington, Ind.
TV: BTN (Kevin Kugler, Shon Morris)
Radio: IU Radio Network (Don Fischer, Errek Suhr, John Herrick)
Series History: Indiana leads, 19-8
Last Meeting: NEB 86, IU 70 on Jan. 3, 2024, in Lincoln
Series History
• Indiana holds an advantage of 19-8 in the abbreviated series history with Nebraska and have won seven of the last eight matchups between the two programs.
• IU has secured wins in each of the last three matchups against the Cornhuskers in Bloomington with an average margin of victory of 12.3 points per game.
• The two sides met in an 86-70 Nebraska win on Jan. 3 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Sophomore center Kel'el Ware posted a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double to pair with two steals and two blocks. The Huskers converted 12-of-32 attempts from behind the 3-point line.
Last Time Out
• Indiana trailed by as many as 16 points with less than seven minutes to play before mounting a spirited comeback that fell just short in a 76-72 loss to Northwestern on Feb. 18 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware became the seventh player in Division I basketball this season to post a line of 20-plus points, 15-plus rebounds, and four-plus blocks after providing the Hoosier attack with 22 points, 16 boards, and four blocked shots. The game marked his fifth of the season with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. Four of the games have come in Big Ten play.
• Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako scored a career-high 20 points, while senior guard Trey Galloway became the first Hoosier in nearly two full seasons to dish out 12 assists.
• The Hoosiers outperformed the Wildcats in paint points (38-26) and points on the break (14-0).
Big Man Transformation
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware, a transfer from Oregon, has upped his scoring (from 6.6 points to 15.0), rebounds (4.1 to 9.4), assists (0.5 to 1.6), and field goal percentage (45.7% to 56.8%) in his second season. He leads the Hoosiers in rebounds and blocks in 31 minutes per game.
• Ware has scored at least 10 points in 18 games this year after producing just eight such games as a rookie. The 7-footer has ripped down at least 10 boards 10 times this season, including three games over 15 boards.
• In 12 conference games, Ware is averaging a team-high 15.1 points on 59.7% (74-of-124) shooting from the floor and 50.0% (8-of-16) from the 3-point line. He is also averaging 10.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per night. He is one of three players (Zach Edey, Purdue; Julian Reese, Maryland) to average a double-double in B1G play.
• Ware tallied a career-high 28 points on 12-of-13 shooting from the floor in an 89-76 win over Harvard (Nov. 26) in Indianapolis. The 92.3% shooting split marked the highest by a Hoosier with at least 10 made field goals this century.
• Against Northwestern, Ware posted 22 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocked shots. He is one of seven players across Division I hoops this season to produce a line with at least 20 points, 15 rebounds, and four blocks.
Mack Attack
• Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako has made a team-high 34 3-pointers this season. Over the last 14 games he is shooting 26-of-67 (38.8%) from behind the arc and is averaging 12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.
• Mgbako scored 19 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor against Minnesota (Jan. 12) to go along with four rebounds and two assists. The Roselle Catholic graduate upped his career high to 20 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor against Northwestern (Feb. 18). He posted his first career double-double with 12 points and a career-high 12 rebounds at No. 10/11 Illinois (Jan. 27).
• The consensus top-10 recruit is averaging 12.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in Big Ten play. He has reached double figures in the scoring column in 17 of the last 20 games.
• Among freshmen in the Big Ten, Mgbako is first in total points (282) and free throws made (68), second in points per game (11.3) and made 3-pointers (34), and third in total rebounds (102).
Follow the Gallo-Way
• Senior guard Trey Galloway is one of four players in the Big Ten to average at least 10.0 points, 3.5 assists, and 1.0 steal per game while committing less than 2.0 turnovers per outing. He joins A.J. Hoggard (Michigan State), Bruce Thornton (Ohio State), and Tony Perkins (Iowa) on the exclusive list.
• Galloway has dished out 78 total assists (5.6 per game) in his last 14 outings dating back to Dec. 21, 2023, to go against just 28 turnovers (2.79 assist-to-turnover ratio). He handed out a career-high 12 helpers against Northwestern (Feb. 18). For his career, the Hoosiers are 13-5 in the 18 games 'Gallo' has handed out at least five dimes.
• He is averaging a career-best 10.9 points per game, including a career-high 28 points against No. 2/2 Kansas (Dec. 16). He converted 12-of-17 shots in the contest. He scored a Big Ten career-high 25 points (19 in the second half) at Ohio State (Feb. 6) while leading IU to an 18-point comeback victory.
Comeback Effort Falls Short against Wildcats
• Indiana held Northwestern to 35.4% (23-of-65) shooting from the floor in a 76-72 loss in Bloomington on Feb. 18. The Hoosiers nearly erased a 16-point deficit with 6:17 to play but were never able to get closer than four points.
• Sophomore center Kel'el Ware scored a team-high 22 points to go along with 16 rebounds and four blocks. Freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako tallied a career-high 20 points (19 in the second half), while senior guard Trey Galloway dished out a career-best 12 assists.
Hoosiers Lose to Boilers in Mackey Arena
• Indiana dropped a 79-59 contest at No. 2/2 Purdue on Feb. 10. Three Hoosier starters reached double figures in freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako (12 points), sophomore center Kel'el Ware (11), and senior guard Trey Galloway (10).
• Sophomore guard CJ Gunn scored a career-high 13 points on 3-of-4 shooting from behind the arc. He also dished out three assists in 20 minutes off the bench. Gunn and fifth-year senior forward Anthony Walker combined for 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor. The duo helped IU's bench outscore the Boilers, 20-15.
Double Double, Double Double (CAREER)
Payton Sparks: 22; last vs. Toledo, 3/3/23
Kel'el Ware: 10; vs. Northwestern, 2/18/24
Xavier Johnson: 4; last vs. Arizona, 12/10/22
Anthony Walker: 4; last at Clemson, 2/27/21
Malik Reneau: 2; last at Ohio State, 2/7/24
Mackenzie Mgbako: 1; at Illinois, 1/27/24
Twenty Piece (CAREER)
Xavier Johnson: 21; last vs. North Carolina, 11/30/22
Payton Sparks: 9; last vs. Ohio, 3/9/23
Kel'el Ware: 7; last vs. Northwestern, 2/18/24
Malik Reneau: 6; last at Ohio State, 2/7/24
Trey Galloway: 3; last at Ohio State, 2/7/24
Mackenzie Mgbako: 1; vs. Northwestern, 2/18/24
@IndianaMBB
For all the latest on Indiana University men's basketball, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMBB on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
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