Indiana University Ends Losing Streak
On Friday night, Indiana University ended its frustrating four-game losing streak with a decisive 82-59 victory over Rutgers, marking their first win at the Rutgers venue since February 5, 2018.
Key Performers
In a strong team effort, Lamar Wilkerson led the scoring with 27 points, closely followed by Nick Dorn who contributed 23 points. Tucker DeVries also made a significant impact, scoring 22 points alongside 10 rebounds and six assists, solidifying his status with a third double-double of the season.
Game Highlights
The first half set the tone for Indiana, as they built a comfortable lead of 47-32 by halftime. DeVries was particularly impressive, netting 16 points before the break while Dorn and Wilkerson added 14 and 13 points, respectively. The Hoosiers found success shooting 50% overall during this period, including a commendable 40% from beyond the arc with eight successful 3-pointers out of 20 attempts.
Rutgers struggled significantly, especially in the opening moments of the game, with their starters failing to score for over 12 minutes. Tariq Francis stood out for the Scarlet Knights, coming off the bench to score 21 of the team’s 32 first-half points, finishing the game with 28 points. However, his teammates could not match his production, shooting poorly at 4 of 17 for the first half.
Second Half and Conclusion
Throughout the second half, the Hoosiers maintained a comfortable lead, consistently leading by double digits. By the end of the game, Indiana had made 15 three-pointers from 35 attempts, with Dorn hitting six, Wilkerson five, and DeVries four.
With this victory, Indiana improved to an overall record of 13-7 and 4-5 in the Big Ten Conference. Their next challenge will be a home game against No. 4 ranked Purdue on Tuesday. Rutgers, now with a record of 9-11 and 2-7 in the Big Ten, will face No. 10 Michigan State at home on the same day.
