Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
14-6,5-4Big Ten
Northwestern
12-7,3-5Big Ten
Hoosiers Fall Late in Evanston
1/22/2025 9:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Indiana head coach Mike Woodson searched for answers that wouldn't come. Not on Wednesday night. Not when a first half of dominating defense became a second half of misery.
"I wish I knew. I'm still trying to figure that out," Woodson said in the aftermath of a 79-70 loss at Northwestern.
The Hoosier defense, so good in the first half, became a second half liability. It was torched outside, sprung leaks inside and couldn't contain Northwestern's Nick Martinelli, Ty Berry, Jalen Leach and Brooks Barnhizer - who combined for 77 points.
"We didn't answer the bell," Woodson said. "They did. We didn't guard well. They made us pay, especially in the second half. They made shots all over the court."
IU (14-6 overall, 5-4 in the Big Ten) was poised for a second-straight road victory, a follow-up to its tough-minded overtime win at Ohio State, until Northwestern's 21-4 down-the-stretch run, fueled by 3-point sharp-shooting, wrecked that opportunity.
"We play a good game on the road and beat Ohio State, then come here and got an opportunity to win a game, and we let it get away the second half," Woodson said. "You've got to give them credit -- they played their butts off in the second half, and we didn't."
The Wildcats (12-7, 3-5) made nine 3-point field goals in the second half while scoring 54 points.
"Our communication from a defensive standpoint was lost in the second half," Woodson said, "and they made us pay."
The Hoosiers had a similar big run in the first half. They fell behind by 10 points, then ended the half on an 18-2 surge for a 31-25 lead. They had energy and momentum.
It wasn't enough. Not with 17 IU turnovers leading to 21 Northwestern points. Not with the Wildcats shooting 64.5% on 3-point field goals and 62.5% overall in the final 20 minutes.
"It was turnovers," Woodson said. "Not guarding. We gave up too many opportunities and they made us pay."
Indiana sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako bounced back from recent offensive struggles for 20 points along with five rebounds. Sixth-year center Oumar Ballo had 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Senior forward Luke Goode made 4-of-5 3-pointers for 14 points. Redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice had 11 points, four rebounds and two steals.
Junior forward Malik Reneau played after missing the previous five games with an injury. He totaled two points and three rebounds in 11 minutes after coming in at the 14:15 mark of the first half.
"It will take a while," Woodson said. "He's not there yet. He hasn't played in a number of games. I knew I wasn't going to play him many minutes. He has to get his conditioning back."
Six turnovers in the game's first four minutes produced a 4-4 tie. Northwestern edged ahead 12-7. Goode and fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway responded with 3-pointers off Ballo assists to get IU within 15-13 before the Wildcats surged ahead 23-13 behind Berry.
Four straight Ballo points, set up by strong Hoosier offensive rebounding, was followed by a Rice 3-pointer and an Anthony Leal free throw. The lead was down to two.
Reneau's two free throws got IU within 24-23 with three minutes left in the half. Baskets by Mgbako and Galloway, and then two Galloway free throws, and then an Mgbako layup, pushed the Hoosiers to a 31-25 halftime lead.
Ballo and Galloway led with seven points each. Mgbako added six in the first half.
Northwestern missed its final 12 shots and had no offensive rhythm.
"We played beautiful in the first half," Woodson said.
Everything changed in the second half.
A Rice basket and an Mgbako 3-pointer -- his first after 17 straight long-distance misses -- boosted IU to a 36-29 lead after two minutes. The Wildcats rallied for a 39-37 advantage two minutes later and were up 49-42 before a Goode 3-pointer, a Rice layup and another Goode 3-point basket helped the Hoosiers take a 52-49 lead.
Northwestern used that 21-4 run to go ahead 70-56. IU made a final surge with nine Mgbako points and a Goode 3-pointer to close within four points before the Wildcats clinched their fifth straight win over the Hoosiers.
IU hosts Maryland on Sunday.
"We had our chances," Woodson said. "We let it get away in the second half."
