The Indiana Hoosiers Men’s Basketball Team knocked off top seed Illinois 65-63 in the Quarterfinals of the Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Friday afternoon. Indiana advances to the Semifinals Saturday at 1pm against five seed Iowa who beat 4th seed Rutgers 84-74 in the second game of the day, Friday afternoon. The Hoosiers are the first 9 seed to advance to Big Ten Tournament Semifinals since 2002 and its the first time since 2003 that IU has won two games in a Big Ten Tournament. Indiana is in the Semifinals for the first time since 2013 and with this win is presumed to be in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.
Trayce Jackson-Davis led the Hoosiers with 21 points and seven rebounds, Xavier Johnson scored 13 points, and Race Thompson added 10 points and nine rebounds. Indiana was 26-56 from the field for 46%, 3-10 from three-point range for 30%, and 10-13 from free throw line for 77%. Indiana pulled down 35 rebounds, dished out 16 assists, four steals and two blocks. The Hoosiers handled the ball well committing seven turnovers.
Illinois Center Kofi Cockburn scored 23 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Coleman Hawkins added 18 points and was 4-7 from three-point range. Trent Frazier added 11 points. Illinois was 20-56 from the field for 35 %, 8-22 from three-point range for 36% and 15-23 from the free throw line for 65%. Illinois pulled down 37 rebounds, dished out 15 assists, 5 steals, and 5 blocks. Andre Crubelo played 28 minutes off the bench and scores just five points on 1-7 shooting from the field and 3-7 from the free throw line. The 6-1 Sophomore Guard from Puerto Rico pulled down 10 rebounds and had four assists.
Both Teams started out the game aggressive going right inside to get baskets. Illinois led 33-31 at halftime and The Hoosiers outscored the Illini 34-30 in the second half. There were seven ties and nine lead changes throughout this game. Illinois had couple of droughts where they could not hit a field goal. Crubelo missed a free throw and the potential game winner near the end of the game and the Illini had a key turnover late in the game. Indiana was able to close out the game at the free throw line. The Hoosiers are (20-13) and Illinois is (22-9) and the Illini wait until 6pm Sunday for the NCAA selection show on CBS.
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