LIVE BLOG: Follow Indiana's Game at Rutgers in Real Time
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Welcome to our live blog straight from Jersey Mike's Arena on the Rutgers campus. It's Indiana's first Big Ten game of the season. We have breaking news already. Jalen Hood-Schifino has a back injury and will not play today against Rutgers. He tried to give it a go in warmups, but he's not able to play. Anthony Leal (ankle) and Logan Duncomb aren't available either.
We'll post the most recent items at the top, so just keep refreshing for the latest news.
5:30 p.m. — Rutgers goes on a 10-0 run with a Caleb McConnell three and seven quick points from Derek Simpson. It's suddenly 45-37 Rutgers with 9:56 to go. Mike Woodson has to call timeout. Giving the refs and earful after an obvious foul on a Xavier Johns drive that wasn't called.
5:25 p.m. — Race Thompson misses another three-pointer. He's 0-for-3 from deep today and 2-for-16 on the season. He shouldn't be shooting them in a tight game.
5:20 p.m. — Xavier Johnson gets a steal and then hits a mid-range jumper to give Indiana its first lead since 3-0. Hoosiers up 35-33.
5:10 pm. — Xavier Johnson hits a three-pointer — the first by anyone but Miller Kopp in 10 tries — and then Kopp hits another one and we are suddenly tied at 33-33. A quick turnaround. The IU fans in the building are getting loud now too.
5:05 p.m. — Indiana's defense has been there. Rutgers shooting just 32 percent from the floor. Hoosiers are down seven at the half, but if they can make some shots coming out of the break, they're right back in this game.
4:50 p.m. — A goaltending call on a Trayce Jackson-Davis, so it counts as his first field goal of the game. He's 1-for-5 now. Rutgers leads 31-24 at the half. Worst half of basketball we've seen all year from the Hoosiers.
4:38 p.m. — Another turnover for Xavier Johnson on an out-of-control drive. That's four already, and he doesn't have any points either. Under-4 timeout and Rutgers leads 25-18. Worst offensive half of the year for Indiana, and it's not even close.
4:35 p.m. — I know he's getting double-teamed on most every possession. but when you're struggling to make shots, Trayce Jackson-Davis needs to take over. He's taken only two shots so far and Rutgers is suddenly up seven at 23-16.
4:30 p.m. — At the under-8 timeout and Indiana is still struggling offensively outside of Miller Kopp. Rutgers leads 19-16, with the Hoosiers just 1-for-13 from the field outside of Kopp's 4-for-4. Also getting outrebounded 22-11 and Xavier Johnson has three turnovers.
4:24 p.m. — Jordan Geronimo gets fouled on a dunk attempt, and goes to the line. He makes them both and it's a 17-16 Rutgers lead with 8:22 to go. Trayce Jackson-Davis back in too.
4:18 p.m. — Second media timeout and Rutgers leads Indiana 12-10. Miller Kopp has those three three-pointers, and the rest of the team is 0-for-9 from the field.
4:15 p.m. — A second three-pointer for Miller Kopp gives Indiana a 7-5 lead. He's going to be a big piece of this today with Hood-Schifino out. Need those extra quality minutes from him. And boom, he hits a third one, and it's tied 10-10.
4:10 p.m. — Indiana guards Xavier Johnson and Trey Galloway have taken charges on back-to-back possession. First media timeout at 15:55 and Rutgers leads 5-4.
4:06 p.m. — Indiana gets on the board first with a Miller Kopp three-pointer. Xavier Johnson got it started with a steal but his layup on the breakaway was blocked. The ball got out to a wide open Kopp, though, and he knocked it down.
4:05 p.m. — I watched Hood-Schifino warm up and he was trying to go. Had a stimulus machine on his back, but it just must have been too tight.
3:55 p.m. — Junior guard Trey Galloway gets the start with Jalen Hood-Schifino out. He was great against North Carolina, scoring 11 points and shining on the defensive end.
3:45 p.m. — Indiana's Anthony Leal is out of his walking boot. He's with the team but is not dressed, of course. Probably still a couple of weeks away as he strengthens the ankle that he's sprained several times in the past month.
3:40 p.m. — Today's game is on Big Ten Network, with Brandon Gaudin and Robbie Hummel on the call. Here's how to watch, plus our preview of the game with lots of nuts and bolts. CLICK HERE
3:35 p.m. — Indiana is wearing white jerseys on the road today, something that doesn't happen very often. Rutgers is wearing some red throwback jerseys, necessitating the change.
Indiana is wearing white jerseys on the road on Saturday. Rutgers is wearing red throwbacks. (Photo by Tom Brew/HoosiersNow.com
3:30 p.m. ET — Race Thompson is indeed rocking the headband again on Saturday. Faked us out early.
