Malik Reneau delivers as Indiana hangs on vs. Ohio St.
Jan 6, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers center Kel'el Ware (1) attempts a shot past Ohio State Buckeyes forward Zed Key (23) during the first half at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. credits: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports Malik Reneau scored a game-high 23 points Saturday night, including a crucial bucket down the stretch, that enabled Indiana to hold off Ohio State 71-65 in a Big Ten Conference contest in Bloomington, Ind.
The Hoosiers (11-4, 3-1 Big Ten), who trailed by nine points at one stage in the second half, led 67-65 after a rare four-point play off an offensive rebound by the Buckeyes (12-3, 2-2) when Reneau got the ball in the low post. He spun to his left and powered home a layup with 1:15 remaining for a four-point edge.
Xavier Johnson added two foul shots in the final 15 seconds to seal the verdict, capping a big game for the point guard. In his second game back from an injury, Johnson finished with 18 points, three assists and no turnovers in 34 minutes.
CJ Gunn tallied 10 points off the bench for Indiana, which shot nearly 47 percent from the field and committed just four turnovers while forcing 14. That led to a game-changing 22-5 advantage in points off turnovers.
Jamison Battle hit five 3-pointers and scored 17 points to lead Ohio State but leading scorer Bruce Thornton made only 4 of 17 shots and ended the night with just nine points. The Buckeyes wasted a 49-27 rebounding advantage.
Indiana predictably came out with an edge after sustaining its first conference loss Wednesday night at Nebraska, an 86-70 decision that saw the Hoosiers commit 19 turnovers. Coach Mike Woodson criticized the play of starting guards Johnson and Trey Galloway.
The duo was involved in nine straight points as the Hoosiers established an 11-5 lead just over five minutes in on a Galloway layup. Ohio State rebounded with nine straight points later in the half for a 20-15 advantage on Zed Key's bucket with 10:21 left.
The Buckeyes enjoyed a seven-point margin later in the half before Indiana rallied. Johnson's free throws with nine seconds remaining gave it a brief lead before Key converted two foul shots after time expired to make it 38-37 Ohio State at the break.
—Field Level Media