Local Sports News: November 1, 2024

#13 Indiana University Football Travels to Michigan State looking for their best start in School History  The #13 Indiana Hoosiers are looking to make more history Saturday Afternoon as they battle the Michigan State Spartans in Spartan Stadium in East Lansing Michigan at 3:30pm with the game streaming on peacock. Indiana is 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the Big Ten and matches the best start since 1967 a win on Saturday would give the Hoosiers 9-0 start and 6-0 Big Ten record for the first time in Program History. Indiana has had two nine-win seasons in program history and both times the Hoosiers won the Big Ten. In 1945 Bo McMillan led the Hoosiers to 9-0-1 record and the only outright conference title. In 1967 John Pont led the Hoosiers the Rose Bowl after a 9-1 regular season record sharing the Conference Championship with Minnesota and Purdue and finished 9-2 after losing to USC in the Rose Bowl. In 2024 Curt Cignetti has made history as the first coach in IU History to start his tenure 8-0 and just the sixth Big Ten Coach to start is first season 8-0 and is the non-Michigan or Ohio State head coach on the list. He is only coach in Division 1 History to start 8-0 in back-to-back seasons at two different schools as Cignetti was 10-0 in 2023 at James Madison. 

The Hoosiers come into the game with an eight-game winning streak and ties the longest streak since 1967 and the 1945 team eight straight games after a tie at Northwestern the second game of the season. Indiana is the only FBS Team to not allow a first quarter score. The Hoosiers along with Army are the only teams to win every game by double digits and not trail at any point during the season. The Hoosiers have scored first in every game this season and one of four teams along Army, Ole Miss and Boise State that have accomplished that feat. The Hoosiers average 46.5 points on offense and give up 14.1 points per game on defense. Indiana has outscored their opponents 372-113 and have scored 31 or more points in every game this season. Indiana is one of 8 undefeated teams left in the FBS along with Army, Miami (Florida), Pittsburgh, Penn State, BYU, Iowa State and Oregon. 

The Hoosiers beat Washington 31-17 in a Sold-Out Memorial Stadium Last Saturday Afternoon. Senior Running Back Justice Ellison ran for 123 yards and a touchdown against the Huskies. Ellison has scored in 7 consecutive Games and the Hoosiers have scored 30 rushing touchdowns and ran for 1,605 yards and only need three more scores to tie the 2001 team with 33 rushing touchdowns in a season. Tayven Jackson started the game with Kurtis Rourke out due to injury and was 11-19 for 124 yards 1 touchdown pass and an interception and had a rushing touchdown. Head Coach Curt Cignetti is optimistic that Rourke will return for this game after leaving the Nebraska Game with a thumb injury. The “Maple Missile” has thrown for 1,941 yards along with 15 touchdowns and 3 interceptions as the Hoosiers have 51 offensive touchdowns which are the most in the FBS through the first nine weeks of the season. Junior Elijah Sarratt has caught a pass in 33 straight games. The Hoosiers did not give a sack or a tackle for loss against Washington which is the first time since Navy in 2013 and the second time since 2005.  D’Angelo Ponds had interceptions including one for a touchdown against Washington. Mikhal Kamara owns a least one tackle in all 31 games he has played in and in 28 games he has a tackle for loss. Aiden Fisher leads the team with 75 total tackles. The Hoosiers have 24 sacks, 9 interceptions with those for touchdowns, 7 forced fumbles and 5 fumble recoveries. Kicker Nicolas Radicic remains perfect with 5-5 field goals and 51-51 extra points. 

Michigan State is 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten after losing 24-17 at archrival Michigan under the lights last Saturday Night. The Spartans have dropped four out of their last five games. Michigan State led 7-0 after the first quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run by Nate Carter. Michigan led 16-7 before Jonathan Kim hit a 46-yard field goal with 3:46 left in the Third Quarter to trail 16-10. Michigan made 24-10 with 13:20 left in the game as Michigan State scored on a 20-yard pass from Nick Marsh to Adian Chiles with 6:12 left in the game. Michigan State leads the all-time series with Indiana 50-18-2 dating back to 1922 and have been battling for the Old Brass Spittoon since 1950. Michigan State won in Bloomington last season 24-21 but the Hoosiers knocked off the Spartans 39-33 in Double Overtime at East Lansing in 2022 as the teams have split the last four meetings in the series. This is the 14th straight season the two teams have met dating back to 2011 and the 66th time for the Old Brass Spittoon and the Hoosiers are looking to come home with the Spittoon and rewriting more history that Indiana Fans have never seen which is a 9-0 record under a first-year head coach who continues to put the entire country on notice. 

Indiana University Men’s Basketball Hosts Marian in Exhibition Game Indiana University will conclude preseason action in its 125th season of competition in men’s basketball with an exhibition contest against Marian at 7 p.m this evening, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. A stream of the game will be available at B1G+ with Zion Brown, Kevin Vera, and Audrey Marr on the call. • The Hoosiers are 31-0 in exhibition games versus non-Division I opponents since 2004-05. For the third-straight preseason, the Hoosiers and Knights will compete in the exhibition slate. Indiana holds a 3-0 series advantage against Marian.  Kel’el Ware posted a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double in Indiana’s 94-61 victory over Marian last season. Mackenzie Mgbako tacked on 15 points on 3-of-4 shooting from the 3-point line. In the Oct. 29, 2022, exhibition against the Knights, Malik Reneau led all Hoosiers in scoring with 14 points on 7-of-10 shooting. He added 11 boards in the 78-42 Indiana victory.
 
Indiana went on the road to defeated No. 12/12 Tennessee in a charity exhibition by a score of 66-62 on Sunday, Oct. 27. The defense held the Volunteers to 18-of-59 (30.5%) shooting from the floor, 8-of-35 (22.9%) shooting from the 3-point line, and forced 15 turnovers. Junior forward Malik Reneau (21 points, 8 rebounds) and redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice (20 points, 4 assists) combined for 41 points on 15-of-26 (57.7%) shooting. In the first half, Indiana scored 25 points on 11-of-33 (33.3%) shooting from the floor, 0-of-11 (0.0%) from behind the arc, and committed 10 turnovers. IU flipped the script in the second half to score 41 points on 14-of-27 (51.9%) shooting, 4-of-8 (50.0%) from the floor, and coughed just three turnovers. 
 
The Indiana men’s basketball program will square off with the Kansas Jayhawks as part of the 2027 Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced on Sunday. Arizona will play Duke as part of the doubleheader. The game will be played on Friday, Nov. 12, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. The state-of-the-art, multi-purpose stadium will play host to the 2028 NCAA Men’s Final Four later that season. Both games will be showcased on TNT Sports’ networks and platforms, with additional programming information to be announced at a later date. “We are excited to play in such a prestigious event,” head coach Mike Woodson Said. “I look forward to testing our ballclub that early in the season against a high-level opponent like Kansas. Our staff has always prioritized playing the best competition out there and getting this opportunity in Allegiant Stadium should be a lot of fun for both the program and the fan base.” The two storied programs have met 16 times on the hardwood, and both teams have claimed eight victories. The Hoosiers topped the Jayhawks in each of the first six meetings, which included the 1940 and 1953 NCAA Championship bouts. IU (5 national titles) and KU (4) have combined to win nine national championships.  

Mackenize Mgbako Named to the Julius Erving Award Watchlist The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the preseason watchlist for the 2025 Julius Erving Award, including Indiana sophomore forward Mackenize Mgbako, on Wednesday. Named after the Class of 1993 Hall of Famer and 16-year professional basketball player, the Julius Erving Award celebrates its 11th year by recognizing the top small forwards in Division I men’s college basketball. A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watchlist of 20 athletes. The winner of the 2025 Julius Erving Award will be presented on a to be determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy Award (Point Guard), Jerry West Award (Shooting Guard), Karl Malone (Power Forward), and the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Center), in addition to the Women’s Starting Five.

Previous winners of the Julius Erving Award are Dalton Knecht, Tennessee (2024), Jalen Wilson, Kansas (2023), Wendell Moore Jr., Duke (2022), Corey Kispert, Gonzaga (2021), Saddiq Bey, Villanova (2020), Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga (2019), Mikal Bridges, Villanova (2018), Josh Hart, Villanova (2017), Denzel Valentine, Michigan State (2016), and Stanley Johnson, Arizona (2015). The reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year averaged 12.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in his debut collegiate season. He led the Hoosiers with 50 made 3-pointers and shot 32.7% from behind the arc. The Gladstone, N.J., native scored in double figures 25 times and added three 20-point outings in 33 starts a season ago. Mgbako was one of two freshmen in the NCAA to score over 400 points, make at least 50 3-pointers, convert on 90-plus free throws, and grab at least 125 rebounds during the 2023-24 season.

Bloomington North and South Travel to Terre Haute face off with Terre Haute North and South It’s Bloomington vs Terre Haute tonight in the High School Football Class 5A Sectional Semifinals as Bloomington North faces Terre Haute North and Bloomington South will face Terre Haute South with both games scheduled for 7pm and both take place in Terre Haute. The winners will face off next Friday for the Sectional Championship. Bloomington North would Host either Bloomington South or Terre Haute South and Bloomington South would host Terre Haute North. Should the Terre Haute Schools win Terre Haute North would Host Terre Haute South. All four teams last played two weeks ago since this sectional is 4 teams and Class 5A and 6A had last week off when the other four classes kicked off the Sectional First Round. 

Bloomington North will make its second trip to Terre Haute North after beating the Patriots 24-14 on September 20. The Cougars beat Southport 48-14 in the regular season finale 2 weeks ago at Bloomington North. Junior Luke Freel is the starting quarterback after Dash King was injured in a Week 8 loss at Columbus North. Freel was 4-6 with 87 yards and threw touchdown passes against Southport and carried the for 8 times for 78 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. The Cougars are 7-2 under first year Head Coach Anthony Lindsey outscoring their opponents 330-163. Terre Haute North finished the regular season 2-7 under second year Head Coach Michael Ghant. The Patriots lost at home 49-34 to Brebeuf Jesuit two weeks ago. Both of Terre Haute North’s wins game at home this season as the Patriots have been outscored 322-189.

Bloomington South beat Terre Haute South at home 36-34 on September 21, a day after the game started and had to finish the next day due to weather. The Panthers finished the Regular Season 5-4 for fifth year Head Coach Gabe Johnson and beat Seymour 42-6 on the road in the Regular Season Finale two weeks ago. The Panthers have outscored their opponents 303-163. Terre Haute South comes in with a 2-6 record after losing at home to Columbus North 48-24. The Braves have been outscored 298-278 for 12th year Head Coach Tim Herrin and they have scored 24 or more points in every game this season and have given up 22 or more points in every game but one when they beat Southport on the road 30-6 on October 11. 

Bloomington South Boys Soccer battles Harrison (West Lafayette) in the Class 3A State Championship For the first time in program history the Bloomington South Panthers Boys Soccer Team will compete for a State Championship when they battle the Harrison Raiders from West Lafayette Saturday Morning in the Class 3A State Championship at Michael A. Carroll Track and Soccer Stadium on the Campus of Indiana University-Indianapolis at 11 am. The Panthers are 20-1 and are on a 19-match winning streak for Head Coach Corbin Calvert. The Panthers only loss came on August 22 at home to Center Grove 3-0 as the Panthers avenged the loss to the Trojans in the Regional Semifinals 2-0 on October 17 at home. Bloomington South has scored 98 goals with 66 assists and have given up 15 goals making 50 and have 8 shutouts on the season. Calvert has been in charge of the Panthers for three years and has an overall record of 48-5-4 and this is the first year since he has been in charge the Panthers have hoisted any hardware. Calvert who is 36 was the JV coach of Bloomington South for 11 seasons before taking over the varsity.

The Panthers have five players who have scored double digit goals this season led by Senior Midfielder Stefan Bartlett with 19 goals in 21 matches along with four assists. Senior Forward Joe DeGiorgio has scored 17 goals and 14 assists in 19 matches. Senior Forward James “Gus” Hanjorgiris has scored 14 goals and provided 9 assists in 21 matches. Junior Midfielder Tom Henry Berry has scored 13 goals along with 9 assists in 19 matches and Junior Forward Konrad Polit has scored 11 goals and 4 assists in 21 matches. The Panthers have used three goalkeepers throughout the season. Senior Owen Gerber has started 12 matches and has given up 5 goals and made 33 saves and posted six shutouts and has been starter since the midway part of the season. Senior Daniel Sauer started 5 matches giving up 2 goals posting one shoutout while making 10 saves.  Senior Josh Lindauer has played in 5 matches giving up 2 goals making 7 saves and posting 1 shutout.

Harrison will be making its third State Finals appearance as they were Class 2A State Runners Up in 2015 and won the Class 3A State Championship in 2017. The Raiders are 18-0-4 on the season and have 14 straight wins coming into the State Finals for Head Coach Bryan Clouse who has coach at his Alma Mater for 14 years and has a record of 194-65-19 and overall record of 291-122-34 after coaching at West Lafayette for 10 years from 2001-10. Clouse has won 10 Sectional, 5 Regional, 3 Semi State and a State Championship.  Harrison has scored 74 goals on the season with 69 assists. Junior Ivan Gutierrez leads the Raiders attack with 28 goals and 13 assists. Senior Asthon Avila has scored 10 goals and 2 assists. 

Sophomore Adam Schneider leads the Raiders between the pipes starting 21 games giving 11 goals with 12 shutouts and made 43 saves. Freshman Marshall Crowell has played in 7 matches posting 6 shutouts allowing just 1 goal and 3 saves and Junior Shawn Martin has posted a shutout in 2 matches not allowing a goal or making a save.  Harrison finished 4th in the final regular season coaches’ poll and Bloomington South finished 7th. Harrison played Dunbar out of Lexington Kentucky to a scoreless draw on August 23, and beat Rockford Michigan the next day 3-1.

Monroe County will be well represented at the Girls and Boys Cross Country State Finals in Terre Haute Monroe County will have its three public high schools represented on Saturday in the IHSAA Girls and Boys Cross Country State Finals at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course at the Wabash Valley Sports Center in Terre Haute. The Girls Race will start at Noon followed by the Boys Race at 2:30 pm.  This will be the 21st consecutive year that Terre Haute is hosting the state finals

In the Girls Race Bloomington South and Bloomington North advanced as team finishing second and fifth respectively at the Evansville Regional while Edgewood has two individuals competing in Hannah Crain and Ellie Vagedes who finished in the top 15 not with an advancing team. Edgewood finished 6th becoming the first team out of the top five not to advance as a team. Homestead is the defending State Champion and Indian Creek’s Libby Dowty won the Individual State Title as a Sophomore. 

In the Boys Race Bloomington North and Edgewood advanced as a team as the Cougars won their third straight Regional with a score 51 points and the Mustangs were fourth with 164. Bloomington South Freshman Chase Norris advancing as top 15 individual not on an advancing team as the Panthers finished 7th in the team standings. Carmel is looking for the three peat and there will be a new individual champion crowned as Cameron Todd from Brebeuf Jesuit won the individual title as a Senior a year ago.