Quick thoughts on a 74-63 loss at Rutgers:
How it happened: In desperate need of a win, Indiana delivered a dud on Wednesday night in Piscataway. The Hoosiers started strong and led 23-8 in the first half and had an opportunity to stretch it to 17 when Khristian Lander had a point-blank look at the rim. Lander, however, missed it and Geo Baker hit a 3-pointer on the other end to make it a 12-point game. That 3 from the Scarlet Knights was their first of seven makes the rest of the half as Rutgers erased the 15-point cushion and went into halftime with a four-point lead. Rutgers started the game 0-of-7 from 3, but knocked down seven of its final eight attempts from distance in the first half.
The momentum Rutgers built in the first half carried over to the second. Archie Miller had to quickly use a timeout as the Scarlet Knights stretched the lead to seven at 40-33 with 18:49 to play. The Hoosiers never got within six the rest of the way as Rutgers stretched the lead all the way to 20 at the 5:49 mark. At various points in the second half, it appears the Hoosiers had given in for the first time this season. There was no fight. The loss, Indiana’s ninth in conference play, further damages the program’s hopes for an NCAA tournament berth in a season where that was the baseline expectation.
Standout performer: Trayce Jackson-Davis scored a team-high 21 points and Al Durham Jr. added 20 points in the loss.
Statistics that stands out: After only allowing eight points in the first 12:02, Indiana surrendered 66 points to Rutgers over the game’s final 27:58.
Final IU individual statistics:
Final tempo-free statistics:
Filed to: Rutgers Scarlet Knights
