IU basketball: Northwestern 64 Indiana 62 — Three keys | Highlights

EVANSTON, Ill. — Indiana lost to Northwestern by a final score of 64-62 at Welsh Ryan Arena on Wednesday evening.

The Wildcats led 39-20 at halftime before a furious IU rally that came up short. Indiana was led in the game by Trayce Jackson-Davis with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists — all team highs. Race Thompson and Jalen Hood-Schifino both had 13 points for the Hoosiers.

Indiana (18-8, 9-6) will next host Illinois on Saturday in Bloomington.

THREE KEYS TO THE GAME (will be expanded)

1. An insurmountable first half. Indiana trailed 39-20 at halftime with poor play on both ends of the floor and two technical fouls on the IU bench. The Hoosiers shot just 6-of-21 from the field before the break including 0-of-5 from three. They committed six turnovers and star forward Trayce Jackson-Davis got only three shots and made just one. Northwestern went on a 17-1 run. It was a carbon copy of the first meeting in Bloomington when IU fell behind 34-17.

2. No bench production. Indiana’s bench scored just three points on the night and none in the second half. With so little production, Trayce Jackson-Davis was forced to play 39 minutes, while Jalen Hood-Schifino played all 40 and Trey Galloway played 37. Malik Reneau, Tamar Bates and Jordan Geronimo made just 1-of-3 shots and committed 5 fouls and 2 turnovers in a combined 32 minutes.

3. Buie and Audige do it again. For the second time, IU struggled to stay in front of the Wildcat backcourt. Northwestern guards Boo Buie and Chase Audige combined for 35 points including a Buie game-winner on a play where he appeared to both push off and travel. Buie was particularly effective in the second half, with 10 points and 4 assists, and he was 6-of-6 from the line. The pair scored 47 in their win over IU in Bloomington in January.

HIGHLIGHTS