MADISON, Wis. – Indiana struggled to find its rhythm in a disappointing 91-79 loss to Wisconsin at the Kohl Center. Throughout the first half, the Hoosiers faced challenges on both ends of the court, with the Badgers outscoring them from the free throw line and beyond the 3-point line. Indiana’s reliance on long 2-pointers proved ineffective, shooting just 1-for-7 on those attempts. Additionally, the Hoosiers took more long 2s than 3s, resulting in a lackluster offensive performance. In contrast, Wisconsin shot an impressive 52.2 percent from the field and enjoyed a comfortable 13-point lead at halftime, scoring 1.31 points per possession.
The second half didn’t bring much relief for Indiana, as the Badgers extended their lead to 16 points early on. However, the Hoosiers showed a brief spark with a 9-0 run, narrowing the deficit to 49-42 and forcing a timeout from Wisconsin’s head coach Greg Gard. Unfortunately, Wisconsin’s Max Klesmit responded with back-to-back 3-pointers, reestablishing a double-digit lead for the Badgers. Indiana’s struggles continued, allowing Wisconsin to stretch their lead to 17 points and losing CJ Gunn to a flagrant two foul. By the under-12 media timeout, the Hoosiers found themselves trailing 67-44, unable to mount a comeback.
Despite the loss, Malik Reneau stood out for the Hoosiers, scoring a team-high 28 points on 12-for-21 shooting in 40 minutes of play. Reneau’s increased minutes were necessary due to Kel’el Ware’s absence. Mackenzie Mgbako also contributed with 17 points in 32 minutes on the court.
Defensively, Indiana struggled to contain Wisconsin, allowing them to shoot an impressive 59.6 percent from the field. The Hoosiers also had difficulty defending the free throw line, as the Badgers converted 25 of their 29 attempts.
Looking ahead, Indiana’s overall record now stands at 12-7, with a 4-4 record in Big Ten play. The Hoosiers will need to regroup and make adjustments to bounce back from this loss.
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