LIVE BLOG: Follow Indiana's Basketball Game Against Harvard
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indiana is back in action Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET against the Harvard Crimson.
Coach Mike Woodson and the Hoosier enter the matchup with a 4-1 record, following a win over Louisville and a loss to UConn in the Empire Classic. In coach Tommy Amaker's 17th season, Harvard has a 5-1 record with three wins away from home.
Welcome to our live blog, where we'll provide live updates and thoughts on the game from press row at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
6:33 p.m. – Final: Indiana 89, Harvard 76 – Hoosiers move to 5-1 on the season, thanks to 63 combined points from Kel'el Ware, Malik Reneau and Mackenzie Mgbako. Maryland up next on Friday.
6:29 p.m. – Malik Reneau reaching for his back again after checking out of the game with 1:20 again. Seems to be in some pain still.
6:27 p.m. – Gabe Cupps has had a difficult time guarding Malik Mack today, fouling him three times on jump shots. Cupps brings a lot of pressure to opposing guards, but he's been a bit too eager contesting Mack's jumpers today. IU leads 84-74 with two minutes left.
6:22 p.m. – Harvard is just 1-for-7 from 3-point range after going 8-for-17 in the first half. IU shooting 66.7% in the second half.
6:19 p.m. – Ware was a perfect 8-for-8 from the field today, but his streak comes to an end on his ninth attempt, a driving layup. The program record was 9-for-9 by De'Ron Davis and Will Sheehey, and that record will hold for another game. Ware now with 21 points on 9-for-10 shooting.
6:14 p.m. – Kaleb Banks now 2-for-4 from 3-point range today, pushing IU's lead to 71-61. That's an important development for this team, which doesn't have a ton of 3-point shooters.
6:01 p.m. – IU now on a 17-5 run in a roughly five-minute stretch. The Hoosiers are getting anything they want at the rim. IU leads 66-54.
5:59 p.m. – Mike Woodson is irate at the fouls being called against IU while Malik Mack is shooting. He thinks Mack has been kicking his leg out. Mack went 1-for-3 at the free throw line through loud boos from the pro-IU crowd.
5:57 p.m. – Reneau's back seems fine after he made a layup through a foul. He missed the free throw, but Mgbako was there to clean it up for an and-one of his own. IU has its biggest lead of the game at 63-51.
5:55 p.m. – Ware knocks down a mid-range jumper. His ability to knock down outside shots is so crucial to the spacing of this offense. IU has its biggest lead of the game at 58-51.
5:54 p.m. – Malik Reneau has returned to action after going to the locker room grabbing his back. Anthony Leal is in now, too.
5:50 p.m. – Ware's 3-pointer extended IU's lead to five, but Malik Mack answered with a tough jumper. He's got nine points already this half and 17 total. IU leads 54-51 with 14:35 to play.
5:45 p.m. – A quick 6-0 run gives IU a 47-45 lead with 17:27 to play. Looks like the Hoosiers could be without Xavier Johnson and Malik Reneau the rest of the way due to injury.
5:43 p.m. – Malik Reneau was grimacing and reaching for his lower back while running down the court. He hit the floor later that possession and immediately walked to the locker room after the whistle. Walker replaces him.
5:41 p.m. – Malik Reneau's lefty hook has been money today. He scores first that way, then with an up and under move. IU still trailing 45-43.
5:40 p.m. – Yep, Cupps starting the second half. I don't see Johnson on the bench.
5:38 p.m. – I don't see Xavier Johnson warming up for the second half. He was walking around carefully at the end of the first half. That would mean big minutes for freshman Gabe Cupps.
5:32 p.m. – Here's the full halftime box score:
Halftime box score between Indiana and Harvard.
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5:25 p.m. – Some halftime stats: Kel'el Ware leads all scored with 12 points, and Mackenzie Mgbako is next with 9. Harvard has four players with eight points. IU shooting 54.8% overall and 2-for-6 from three. Harvard shooting 50% and 8-for-17 from three.
5:23 p.m. Halftime: Harvard 40, Indiana 39. Malik Mack banked in a leaning 3-pointer at the buzzer. Officials are reviewing the shot.
5:18 p.m. – Nice job by Gabe Cupps to take a charge in transition, drawing Malik Mack's second foul. Mack is Harvard's leading scorer. Banks makes a corner three on the following possession.
5:15 p.m. – IU's front court – Mgbako, Reneau, Ware – has combined for 25 of the Hoosiers first 33 points on 11-for-18 shooting.
5:12 p.m. – Johnson makes a difficult shot falling away from the rim while being fouled to give IU a 33-31 lead at the under-4 timeout. He'll have a free throw after the break. The defense could be better, but it's been a pretty solid performance for Indiana so far. Harvard has made several tough shots.
5:10 p.m. – Mgbako called for a foul after diving on the floor for a loose ball. Woodson disagreed vehemently with the call. There was definitely contact, I thought it was good effort from Mgbako on a play that was up for grabs. Galloway's layup ties it up 31-31 with four minutes to play.
5:08 p.m. – Malik Mack hits a couple of tough shots to put Harvard ahead 29-27. IU played solid defense on both, it was just a better play from Mack.
5:03 p.m. – IU trails Harvard 24-23 at the under-8 timeout. Hoosiers on a mini 5-0 run, with a three from Mgbako and an alley-oop from Reneau to Ware. Harvard's 3-point shooting is keeping them ahead, shooting 4-for-10.
5:02 p.m. – Mgbako set up way to early to take a charge, and the Harvard player drove right around him for an easy layup. Mgbako redeemed himself with another three, raising his total to nine points already.
5:00 p.m. – IU starters back in the game, trailing 22-18 midway through the first half.
4:59 p.m. – CJ Gunn good for a long two from the corner. He and Mgbako have struggled at times this year, but their shooting ability provides a higher ceiling for this team.
4:55 p.m. – IU's offense is getting some practice against a zone defense today. Don't think they've faced one this season yet. It's been a solid start for the offense, though, shooting 7-for-12 overall, 1-for-1 from three and 2-for-4 at the line. The main issue has been four turnovers.
4:53 p.m. – Mike Woodson very upset about the moving screen call on Payton Sparks. A CJ Gunn foul on the other end gives Harvard a 17-15 lead with 12:22 left in the first half.
4:51 p.m. – CJ Gunn, Kaleb Banks and Anthony in for IU now, so it's an all-bench lineup for the Hoosiers, leading 15-12 with 13 minutes left in the half.
4:49 p.m. – Payton Sparks and Gabe Cupps are the first Hoosiers off the bench for Indiana, replacing Kel'el Ware and Xavier Johnson.
4:45 p.m. – Mgbako answers with deep two in transition. His strong start is a great sign for Indiana. He's got seven points to lead all scorers, as IU leads Harvard 13-10 at the under-16 timeout.
4:42 p.m. – Looked like Mgbako got a little lost on defense, as Harvard's Chisom Okpara makes a three. Harvard drove and kick, which got Mgbako to lead his man. IU leads 11-10.
4:37 p.m. – Mgbako good from three on IU's second possession. IU really needs him to start being productive.
4:36 p.m. – IU wins the tip, and we're under way. Malik Reneau starts the game with a lefty hook. Okpara answers with a three over Reneau.
4:01 p.m. – The video board is showing the usual starters for Indiana: Xavier Johnson, Trey Galloway, Mackenzie Mgbako, Malik Reneau and Kel'el Ware.
3:57 p.m. – While it's not at Assembly Hall, this will be as close to as a home game as it can be for Indiana. The crowd will be almost entirely Indiana fans, and the court even has an IU logo.
Trey Galloway, Anthony Leal and Gabe Cupps attempt half-court shots before Indiana's game against Harvard.
photo by Jack Ankony
3:30 p.m. – Indiana point guard Xavier Johnson and forward Anthony Walker were listed questionable on the pregame availability report, but both are in uniform for warmups. Freshman guard Jakai Newton remains out.
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