IU Basketball vs USC — Live Updates and Discussion Thread (FINAL)

Follow along with live updates below as the Hoosiers take on USC in Los Angeles.

Feel free also to join the discussion thread below to share your views.

Indiana and the Trojans tip off at 10:00 p.m. ET on Peacock.

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FINAL: USC 81 – Indiana 75

SECOND HALF

Oh my, Tayton Conerway with a layup. 75-73 with 24 seconds and IU has to foul.

Indiana is able to cut it within five. 1:55 to go, and USC takes a timeout.

Trojans lead 69-59 with 3:46 left.

Indiana cut it down to four, but some poor shot choices let the close game slip away. Lamar Wilkerson is up to 30 and trying his best to keep IU close, but USC has all the momentum.
It hasn’t been talked about enough, but IU has been absolutely outclassed on rebounds. USC leads the category 36-20.

USC 59-51 with 7:35 left to go.

Hoosiers are not out of it yet. Lamar Wilkerson makes a few shots to get them back in striking distance. He’s up to 24 points and has shot 9-15 from the field.
Indiana has to limit their fouls as much as they can towards the end of this game. USC is near the bonus and is 15-19 from the free-throw line tonight. IU is just 5-6.

USC leads 55-41 with 11:39 to go.

Indiana has just let this one go. Very poor offensive display in the second half and a lot of sloppy play on the defensive end. Even without Chad Baker-Mazara, Alijah Arenas, and the Trojans are controlling this game.
After making his first shot, Nick Dorn has gone noticeably cold from the field. He’s 1-for-8 from the field and is still at 3 points.

Chad Baker-Mazara goes to the locker room. Looked like he fell awkwardly on his foot. Unfortunate play for him, but Indiana now has the chance to capitalize on USC’s leader being out.
Indiana still hasn’t been able to break through the Trojans and their defense. They’re still at a 42 percent clip on the game, and have turned the ball over eight times. USC is outrebounding Indiana 23-15 so far.

HALFTIME: USC 35 – Indiana 30

FIRST HALF

Trojans lead 29-28 with 3:56 left to play.

It’s been a great half of basketball in Los Angeles. A lot of good offense and defense from both sides, and no team has pulled away yet. Lamar Wilkerson has stood out so far. He’s got 13 first-half points.
Indiana has seven fouls so far in the half, which could be exploited by USC. The Trojans came into the game as one of the highest free-throw shooting teams and have gotten a large percentage of their points this season from the line. IU will have to stay disciplined in these final four minutes.

USC up 22-20 with 6:15 in the half.

Indiana hasn’t gotten off to the best start shooting the ball, but USC has done the same. The Hoosiers have shot 42 percent from the field, and are 4 of 13 from beyond the arc. IU has also missed plenty of open looks, both from outside and at the rim.
Tayton Conerway checked in at the last segment, but only played four minutes. It’ll be interesting to see how he meshes with what has looked like a new team as he comes back from injury

Trojans lead 16-15 with 10:49 to play.

Lamar Wilkerson is off to a nice start for the Hoosiers. He has 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting. He made a nice transition three after a near six-step gather before the shot, but it wasn’t called for a travel
After a good offensive start, USC hasn’t made a field goal in its last seven shots. They haven’t scored in over four minutes.

USC leads 11-8 through the first four minutes.

Chad Baker-Mazara has seven of USC’s 11 points so far, but all of those have been from tough shots while tightly guarded by Conor Enright. I like the idea of Enright on him, but there is a size and reach advantage there.
Indiana is moving the ball very well through the first four minutes. Nick Dorn and Lamar Wilkerson each have a three-pointer, and IU has assisted on all of their field goals so far.

PREGAME NOTES

Tayton Conerway has been upgraded to questionable for tonight. If he does see the floor, it’ll more than likely be for limited minutes. Harris and Drake are both out.
Starters for IU: Enright, Wilkerson, Dorn, DeVries, Alexis

Game Day Essentials:

The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”