Indiana Hoosiers Knock Off Rutgers Scarlet Knights
After trudging through a brutal four-game losing streak, including a gauntlet against three top-10 teams, Indiana finally stopped the bleeding. The Hoosiers walked into Jersey Mike’s Arena and absolutely dismantled Rutgers, 82-59. There was no drama, no late-game collapse, and no fatigue. Just a good old-fashioned blowout that reminded everyone why this team had high hopes to begin with.
The Three-Headed Monster Awakens For Indiana
Usually, when a bench gets short, teams get tired. But apparently, nobody told Lamar Wilkerson, Nick Dorn, or Tucker DeVries that. These three didn’t just lead the way; they were the way. In a box score that looks like a typo, this trio combined for 72 of Indiana’s 82 points. The rest of the team scored 10 points combined, and it didn’t even matter.
Wilkerson was playing video game basketball, dropping a game-high 27 points on an ultra-efficient 11-of-17 shooting. He was getting to his spots whenever he wanted, and Rutgers simply had no answer. Then you had Tucker DeVries, who finally looked like the superstar transfer fans were promised. After a slump where the basket probably looked like a thimble, DeVries broke out with 22 points and snagged 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season.
Nick Dorn’s Breakout Party
Injuries are usually a disaster, but sometimes they force a team to stumble upon gold. With Tayton Conerway hobbled by an ankle injury, Dorn got the nod for his first start. Talk about seizing the moment.
The Elon transfer didn’t just fill a spot; he lit the gym on fire. Dorn drained six three-pointers on his way to 23 points. There was a moment in the first half, after swishing his second deep ball in under a minute, where he flashed a “three” sign across his face with a sly grin. That was the moment the energy shifted. The Hoosiers’ bench was up, the confidence was flowing, and the lead ballooned to 15.
A Lonely Night For Tariq Francis
You almost have to feel bad for Tariq Francis. The Rutgers junior guard played his heart out, finishing with 28 points. He was driving, hitting floaters, and doing everything humanly possible to keep the Scarlet Knights competitive. The problem? He was playing 1-on-5.
The rest of the Rutgers roster was a ghost town. No other Scarlet Knight scored in double figures. At one point in the first half, Francis had 12 points while his teammates had none. It took nearly 13 minutes for another Rutgers player to hit a field goal.
The defining moment of the night for Rutgers came when Francis delivered a perfect lob to Emmanuel Ogbole, who was wide open on the block. The ball slipped right through Ogbole’s hands. The groan from the 6,500 fans in Piscataway said it all. It was just that kind of night. While Indiana was hitting 15 threes, Rutgers couldn’t even catch a pass.
Indiana Defense Locks Down
While the offensive explosion will get the headlines, the defense deserves a game ball. Indiana held Rutgers to a miserable 36.2% shooting from the floor.
Aside from Francis, who got his points through sheer volume and will, nobody on Rutgers could breathe. The Hoosiers controlled the glass, out-rebounding the Knights 40-27, and never let the home crowd get into the game. After Rutgers missed their first five shots to open the night, they were chasing the game for the next 38 minutes.
Looking Ahead: The Rivalry Awaits
This win was massive for the standings, but it was even bigger for the psyche. Indiana (13-7, 4-5 Big Ten) desperately needed to see the ball go in the hoop before their next matchup. Why? Because the Purdue Boilermakers are coming to town.
There is no bigger game on the calendar than Indiana vs. Purdue. Going into that rivalry matchup on a five-game losing streak would have been a nightmare scenario. Instead, the Hoosiers are rolling back to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall with swagger, a hot-shooting lineup, and the knowledge that when they click, they can blow teams out of the water.
