Indiana's Malik Reneau led the charge with 22 points as the Hoosiers secured a commanding 78-62 victory over Washington. The win marks Indiana's third consecutive triumph.
Indiana's basketball squad showcased their prowess in a dominant 78-62 win against Washington on Saturday. Reserve player Malik Reneau emerged as the standout performer, netting 22 points with an impressive 10-for-13 shooting accuracy. Luke Goode contributed significantly with 18 points, while Mackenzie Mgbako and Myles Rice each added 10 to the scoreboard.
The Hoosiers set the tone early, establishing a 21-9 lead within the first 10 minutes. This early advantage proved crucial as Indiana maintained control throughout the game, leading for all but 47 seconds. By halftime, the scoreboard read 44-30 in favor of Indiana.
Washington showed signs of life early in the second half, with Zoom Diallo's 3-pointer capping a 7-0 run that narrowed the gap to 44-37. However, Indiana swiftly responded, with Mgbako sinking two free throws and Oumar Ballo contributing a jumper and a free throw. This counter-attack effectively stifled Washington's momentum, allowing Indiana to maintain a double-digit lead for the remainder of the game.
The Hoosiers' dominance peaked with 8:10 left on the clock when Reneau's layup gave Indiana their largest lead of 20 points at 64-44. This commanding performance marks Indiana's third consecutive victory, improving their season record to 18-11 overall and 9-9 in Big Ten conference play.
For Washington, now on a four-game losing streak, Diallo led the scoring with 18 points. Tyler Harris, Frank Kepnang, and Mekhi Mason each contributed 10 points in a losing effort, as the Huskies' record fell to 13-16 overall and 4-14 in conference play.
Looking ahead, Indiana will travel to face Oregon on Tuesday, while Washington heads to Los Angeles for a matchup against USC on Wednesday. These upcoming games will be crucial for both teams as they look to finish their seasons strong and potentially impact their standings for postseason considerations.
