Indiana improved to 12-3 total and 3-1 in Huge Ten video games with a 77-71 win in opposition to Penn State on Sunday on the Palestra.
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the win in opposition to the Nittany Lions:
An early second-half run supplied the separation IU wanted
Tied at 29 at halftime, Indiana blitzed Penn State within the first three minutes of the second half.
Sophomore Mackenzie Mgbako scored eight fast factors to make it 37-29 and compelled Mike Rhoades to take a timeout with 18:48 to play.
The Hoosiers didn’t cease there.
Out of the timeout, a missed layup by Puff Johnson led to a Myles Rice layup in transition. After Penn State did not capitalize on its subsequent possession, Indiana pushed the result in 41-29 on a second-chance bucket by Oumar Ballo with 17:11 remaining.
That 12-0 run to begin the second half flipped the momentum of the sport and Penn State by no means actually recovered. The Nittany Lions had been taking part in catchup for the whole thing of the second half, however the Hoosiers led for the length in recording their first Huge Ten win away from dwelling.
Oumar Ballo dominated the paint for a second straight recreation
Oumar Ballo was terrific in IU’s 84-74 win in opposition to Rutgers on Thursday evening in Bloomington. Getting back from a one-game absence, Ballo completed with 17 factors, 12 rebounds and three blocked photographs in 32 minutes.
Ballo was even higher on Sunday afternoon on the Palestra.
The Koulikoro, Mali native recorded his second 25-point recreation of the season in IU’s win. Ballo completed with 25 factors, 13 rebounds, three assists and two blocked photographs. The 7-footer battled foul bother down the stretch minutes. He dedicated his third foul with 9:20 left and his fourth with 7:25 to play.
It was his seventh recreation with 10 or extra rebounds and his third double-double in an IU uniform.
Via 14 video games, Ballo is taking pictures 66.7 p.c on 2s and 56.7 p.c from the free throw line. Each numbers are up from final season. Ballo at present has the very best free throw fee (FTA/FGA) within the Huge Ten at 94.6 p.c.
He additionally ranks twelfth within the Huge Ten in block proportion, fourth in offensive rebounding proportion and fifth in defensive rebounding proportion.
Indiana withstands Penn State’s stress protection
Penn State thrives on dashing its opponents up and forcing turnovers that result in transition factors. Getting into Sunday’s recreation, Penn State ranked within the prime ten nationally in opponent turnover proportion.
Whereas the Nittany Lions received the factors off of turnovers and fastbreak factors battles, the Hoosiers didn’t cave from the stress.
Penn State opponents had been averaging 17 turnovers per recreation coming into the sport and Indiana dedicated 14 on Sunday afternoon.
Indiana has made important development all through the season in taking good care of the ball. The Hoosiers now rank 189th nationally in turnover proportion, based on KenPom, at 17.8 p.c.
Perimeter taking pictures comes via with one other robust efficiency
After making a season-high 12 3-pointers on Thursday in opposition to Rutgers, Indiana stayed scorching from the perimeter on the Palestra.
Many of the harm got here within the second half for Indiana. The Hoosiers shot simply 2-for-11 (18.2 p.c) within the first 20 minutes, however heated up shortly after intermission.
Indiana went 7-for-12 (58.3 p.c) on 3s within the second half and completed 9-for-23 (39.1 p.c).
Mgbako was the standout performer from deep within the win. The Gladstone, New Jersey, native made 4 triples on his option to 20 factors. Mgbako had 15 factors within the second half.
Luke Goode, who has began the final three video games, additionally stayed scorching from distance. After his 3-for-5 mark on Sunday, Goode is now 6-for-10 from deep over IU’s earlier two video games and as much as 34.8 p.c for the season. Goode is 9-for-21 (42.9 p.c) in Huge Ten video games on 3s.
Indiana picks up its first resume-building win
It’s no secret Indiana’s NCAA match resume was missing when Huge Ten play resumed on Thursday.
The win in opposition to Rutgers was Quad 3 based on the NCAA’s NET rankings, which didn’t transfer the needle in bolstering this system’s resume for March.
Sunday’s win, nevertheless, was extra significant.
The win in opposition to the Nittany Lions was Indiana’s first to fall into Quad 1, based on the NET. The Hoosiers had been beforehand 0-2 in Quad 1 video games.
Given the power of the Huge Ten, the Hoosiers have loads of possibilities over the subsequent 16 video games to proceed constructing a resume. To get nearer to the NCAA match bubble, IU should proceed to carry serve in Bloomington whereas selecting off a number of extra street wins.
(Picture credit score: IU Athletics)
Filed to: Penn State Nittany Lions
