LIVE BLOG: Updates From Indiana Basketball Game At Northwestern

EVANSTON, Ill. – Indiana and Northwestern have produced several nail-biting games in recent seasons. But the last four matchups decided by a total of just 15 points have all gone in Northwestern's favor, making it the only Big Ten team Indiana coach Mike Woodson has played but not beaten since 2021-22.

Woodson and the Hoosiers get another shot at the Wildcats at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Ill. Indiana is coming off a 77-76 overtime win Friday at Ohio State, and Northwestern most recently lost 80-76 in overtime Sunday at Michigan.

Welcome to our live blog, where we'll share updates, highlights and thoughts on the game live from Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Final: Northwestern 79, Indiana 70. Ty Berry scored 23 points on 7-for-10 3-point shooting, leading Northwestern's best 3-point shooting game (13-27) since the 2021-22 season. Mgbako bounced back from a rough stretch with 20 points. Indiana (14-6, 5-4) host Maryland Sunday. Here's the final box score.

Indiana-Northwestern Basketball — Northwestern defeated Indiana 79-70 Wednesday at Welsh-Ryan Arena. | statbroadcast

2H 0:43 – Indiana isn't dead just yet, as Goode and Mgbako hit 3-pointers to make it a 72-68 deficit.

2H 3:07 – Northwestern on a 21-4 run in 6:03 with five 3-pointers. Wildcats have a 70-56 lead with 3:07 to play. That may have been the knockout punch.

2H 5:42 – After a 10-0 Indiana run, Northwestern goes on a 13-0 run with two 3-pointers from Leach and a 3-pointer from Berry. Indiana has entered the danger zone, trailing 62-52. Northwestern is 11 for 24 from 3-point range.

2H 9:10 – The back-and-forth swings continue as Goode puts the Hoosiers on top by a point with a 3-pointer from Goode in the corner. Ballo swatted away a massive block on the following possession, then scored a layup, assisted by Galloway. Barnhizer responded with a tough layup. Hoosiers up 52-51.

2H 10:36 – Rice jumps the passing lane and speeds past the Northwestern defense for a fast-break layup. Collins calls a timeout, leading 49-47 with 10:36 to play. It sure feels like this one is going to come down to the wire.

2H 11:52 – Ty Berry is on fire. Northwestern's lead is back up to 47-42 after Berry's sixth 3-pointer in seven tries. Indiana has to do a better job of sticking close to him and limiting his looks from beyond the arc. Berry has a game-high 20 points.

2H 15:36 – Northwestern leads Indiana 39-37 at the under-16 timeout after a Martinelli 3-pointer. Wildcats missed their final 12 shots in the first half, but they're 6 for 8 to start the second half.

2H 17:20 – Good start to the second half for Indiana, with a layup from Rice and a 3-pointer from Mgbako. It would be great for Indiana if Mgbako started to find his shot again, as he's really struggled over the last five games. He has nine points tonight on 4-for-8 shooting. Indiana leads 36-31.

Halftime: Indiana 31, Northwestern 25. Hoosiers close the half on an 18-2 run in the last 8:41, a brutal stretch of offense from Northwestern. Ballo and Galloway lead IU with seven points apiece. Berry has 11 for the Wildcats. Here's the halftime box score.

Indiana Basketball — The box score at halftime of Indiana's game at Northwestern. | statbroadcast

1H 1:30 – Hoosiers have their first lead of the game, 27-25, after a Galloway floater, and the pro-Indiana crowd at Welsh-Ryan Arena is on its feet chanting "Let's go Hoosiers." Looks like Indiana fans have outnumbered Northwestern fans tonight. If not, they've at least been louder.

1H 2:31 – Barnhizer snaps Northwestern's 3:32 scoring drought by splitting a pair of free throws. Indiana has not taken advantage of that dismal stretch, though, as it has made just three of its last 16 shots from the field. Northwestern leads 25-23.

1H 3:59 – You came to the wrong place if you were looking for good offense at Welsh-Ryan Arena. Northwestern hasn't made a field goal since the 9:35 mark. Indiana has made just two of its last 13 shots. Both teams haven't scored in over two minutes. Northwestern leads 24-21.

1H 6:03 – Indiana responds to Northwestern's 8-0 run with an 8-0 run of its own, with three points from Ballo, a 3-pointer by Rice and a free throw by Leal. There are a lot of Indiana fans in attendance at Welsh-Ryan Arena, and they're not happy with a foul called on Rice. I thought he picked the steal away cleanly, too. Hoosiers trail 23-21.

1H 7:36 – Hoosiers trail 23-17 at the under-8. Reneau is clearly shaking off some rust as he's 0 for 4 from the field on shots he typically makes. Berry leads all scorers with 11 points and a trio of 3-pointers.

1H 8:07 – Reneau missed two more shots inside that he usually makes, and Carlyle missed an open 3-pointer after an offensive rebound by Reneau. Ballo grabbed another offensive rebound and made the put-back through a foul, but missed the and-one free throw. Ballo fouled by Martinelli the next time down and made both free throws. Northwestern leads 23-17.

1H 9:35 – Berry sinks another 3-pointer from the right wing, and Woodson calls timeout. That's an 8-0 run for Northwestern, and Indiana hasn't scored in 2:44. Reneau and Ballo have missed some close shots they make more often than not. Northwestern leads 23-13.

1H 11:51 – Nice skip pass from Ballo to Goode in the corner for an open 3-pointer. But Barnhizer grabs an offensive rebound and kicks it to Ty Berry for a 3-pointer in response. Indiana answers right back with another skip pass from Ballo to Galloway for a 3-pointer. Northwestern leads 15-13 at the under-12.

1H 14:15 – Trey Galloway first off the bench for Indiana, and he's got his right wrist/hand taped up. Malik Reneau checks in shortly after for the first time since suffering a knee injury Jan. 2 against Rutgers. Indiana going with Galloway, Goode, Mgbako, Reneau, Ballo.

1H 15:19 – Indiana trails Northwestern 8-5 at the under-16 timeout. Sloppy start from both teams – three turnovers each. Barnhizer took advantage of Ballo switching onto him and made a shifty move to get to a mid-range jumper of the 7-footer.

1H 16:28 – Mgbako missed a 3-pointer, but Ballo wrestled for the rebound and made the putback through a Northwestern foul, then sank the and-one free throw. Six turnovers from both teams so far, an ugly start. Hoosiers lead 5-4.

The board & the bucket. 💪@OumarBallo32 | #IUBB

📺: @BigTenNetwork pic.twitter.com/O2clHGocFy
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) January 23, 2025

1H 18:45 – Turnovers from both sides to start the game. Leach traveled on Northwestern's first possession, then Nicholson couldn't handle a pass inside. Leal turned it over on an entry pass to Ballo, then Rice lost it out of bounds on the next Indiana possession.

6:01 p.m. – There are a lot of empty seats and a strong Indiana presence at Welsh-Ryan Arena just before tipoff. Should be a much friendlier road environment than two seasons ago, when Northwestern fans chanted profanities at former Wildcat Miller Kopp.

5:30 p.m. – Indiana's starting lineup is Myles Rice, Anthony Leal, Luke Goode, Mackenzie Mgbako and Oumar Ballo. That means Malik Reneau, if available, will come off the bench for the first time this season, though I wouldn't be surprised to see he and Ballo on the court together at some point. Northwestern starters are Jalen Leach, Angelo Ciaravino, Brooks Barnhizer, Nick Martinelli and Matthew Nicholson. Martinelli is the Big Ten's leading scorer at 20 points per game.

5:05 p.m. – Reneau and Tucker are both in uniform for warmups at Welsh-Ryan Arena. It sure looks like they'll give it a go tonight. Reneau is wearing a knee brace, and Tucker is wearing tape around two of his fingers. Jakai Newton didn't have an injury designation tonight, though he's still wearing a knee brace.

Malik Reneau, Bryson Tucker — Indiana's Bryson Tucker (left) and Malik Reneau (right) are in uniform for pregame warmups at Northwestern. | photo by Jack Ankony, Indiana Hoosiers On SI

Malik Reneau (listed questionable) is in uniform for warmups at Northwestern, wearing a knee brace. #iubb pic.twitter.com/frg41dpbuZ
— Jack Ankony (@ankony_jack) January 22, 2025

Jakai Newton is still wearing a brace on his knee, but he wasn’t included in the availability report for today’s game. #iubb pic.twitter.com/fShISW9lcn
— Jack Ankony (@ankony_jack) January 22, 2025

3 p.m. – Indiana's Malik Reneau (knee) and Bryson Tucker (finger) are listed questionable on the Big Ten pregame availability report. Reneau has not played since Jan. 2 against Rutgers, and Tucker missed his first game of the season Friday at Ohio State. Gabe Cupps remains out indefinitely.

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