Indiana University Men’s Basketball Freshman Mackenzie Mgbako arrested early Sunday morning
Indiana freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako was arrested early Sunday morning, according to an officer at the Monroe County jail. Mgbako, 18, was booked at 3:16 a.m. on charges of criminal trespass and resisting law enforcement. “IU Athletics is aware of the situation,” an athletic department spokesperson said. “We will continue to gather facts, cooperate with and monitor the legal process, and take further action as the evolving situation warrants.”
Both charges are class A misdemeanors. Mgbako posted bond at 5:25 a.m. and is no longer in custody. The arrest was made by the Bloomington police department, according to an offer at the Monroe County jail. Mgbako, a five-star recruit, originally signed with Duke last fall but reopened his recruitment in April. He chose the Hoosiers in May after also considering Kansas.
Here’s a statement on Mgbako’s arrest from Bloomington Police Department captain Ryan Pedigo: “On October 22nd at approximately 2:15 a.m., officers responded to Taco Bell, located at 3001 E Third Street, in reference to a man refusing to leave the property. Upon arrival, officers were advised by Taco Bell management that they were refusing service to the man in a vehicle in the drive-thru due to him cursing at and being rude to employees. Officers made contact with the man, who refused to identify himself but told officers that he was 18 years old. The man was later identified as Mackenzie Mgbako. Officers asked Mgbako to move his vehicle from the drive-thru line, which he agreed to do and moved the vehicle into a parking space in the Taco Bell lot. Upon speaking further with management, they requested that officers tell Mgbako to leave the property. Officers explained to Mgbako that he needed to leave the property and he refused to do so and kept the windows closed on his vehicle. At one point, Mgbako began to drive out of the lot, but then reversed his vehicle and parked again in a parking space on Taco Bell property. He was told repeatedly that he needed to leave the property by officers but failed to comply and stayed on Taco Bell property for approximately 15 minutes.
“Officers determined that Mgbako would be arrested for trespassing, but he then moved his vehicle to a nearby lot and parked again. Officers approached his vehicle and advised him that he was under arrest and that he needed to exit his vehicle, but he refused to do so. Officers had to use a baton to break the passenger side window of the vehicle to unlock the doors. Upon opening the driver’s door, Mgbako was given commands to exit the driver’s seat, but he refused to do so. Officers had to forcibly remove him from the vehicle and he tensed his arms and would not allow officers to secure him in handcuffs. Officers were able to eventually place him in handcuffs and he was then transported to the Monroe County Jail, where he was remanded for criminal trespass, class A misdemeanor, and resisting law enforcement, class A misdemeanor.”
Indiana University Men’s and Women’s Basketball Kicks off the season with Hoosier Hysteria
College Basketball Season is back for Indiana University Women’s and Men’s Basketball as the team kicked off the unofficial start to the 2023-24 season with Hoosier Hysteria Friday Night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The teams started official practice earlier in the month, but Hoosier Hysteria is all about having fun for the players and showing potential recruits what Indiana University Basketball is all about. Fans packed the lower level and balcony was opened up. Fans were encouraged to bring a canned food item for donation to the Hoosier Hills Food Bank which has always had a long-standing relationship with IU Athletics bringing in as much as 12,000 pounds to help those in need in Monroe and the surrounding counties. Before the actual event got started it was the Championship Game of the Student Athletic Board 3 on 3 Tournament in which Woodson’s Goatee beat the over the Black Knights 10-8. The Red Steppers did a performance, and the Hoosier Hype Crew were launching T-Shirts into the stands. The Co-Emcees for the event were Big Ten Network Women’s Basketball analyst Meghan McKeown and Current IU Football Radio Network analyst Rhett Lewis who got the crowd going with a trip down memory lane at some of the best moments in Indiana Men’s and Women’s Basketball history. The Big Red Basketball pep band and the Cheerleaders performed some of their favorite songs and routines.
It was time to Introduce the IU Women’s Basketball team as they all came out to their own walkout music. They were throwing T-Shirts, and some were doing some dance moves but they were all smiles. Sophomore Yarden Garzon had the Israeli Flag draped around her shoulders and Sydney Parrish came out with her dog Chanel. A video was played with the Hoosier Tradition that normally is Martha the Mop Lady cleaning the hallway floors signing the IU fight song but this time it was Video of Teri Moren and her family and then walking in the building and giving the camera a little wink. She came out to John’s Mellencamp’s Small Town which she does every year paying homage to her hometown of Seymour Indiana and her fellow townie who put Seymour Indiana on the map. Moren was interview by Meghan McKeown and then the team got their Big Ten Championship rings and added to the Big Ten Women’s Basketball banner. The Men got their turn as not a lot dancing was done but they were all smiles and throwing T Shirts and having a lot of fun. The Coaching staff all came out when the script Indiana Warmup Jacket and the Candy Stripe Pants. For Calbert Cheaney, Jordan Hulls and head coach Mike Woodson it is nothing new since they all played and starred for this program. Then a Video was played in which dated back to last year’s Hoosier Hysteria in which Head Coach Mike Woodson said, “Indiana Basketball is excuse my language the Shit” and had fans and former players quoting him and then he came out to Outkast’s So Fresh, So Clean as his entrance music. As they were getting ready for basketball activities McKeown interview former IU Women’s Basketball and now Assistant coach Ali Patberg followed by Rhett Lewis interviewing the Big Ten’s All-time leading scorer Calbert Cheaney.
In the First Round of the Skills Contest Xavier Johnson and Mackenize Holmes beat Lexus Bargesser and Kel’el Ware. The Next matchup Anthony Leal and Lenee Beaumont were behind, and Leal knocked down a three-quarter court shot to beat Chloe Moore-McNeil and Gabe Cupps. In the Final Leal hit the rim but he and Beaumont rallied to beat Holmes and Johnson in the final. Next up was the three-point contest Sara Scalia and Gabe Cupps hit a combined 34 as Scalia hit 19 of them to win the title. Mckenize Mgbako and Chloe Moore McNeil with a combined 31. Yarden Garzon and Trey Galloway hit a combined 30 with Garzon hitting 19 of them. Sydney Parrish and CJ Gunn combined for 25. It was time for a knockout competition as Scalia, Parrish, Juliana LaMendola, Henna Sandvik and Garzon represented the Women’s Team. Payton Sparks, CJ Gunn, Xavier Johnson, Anthony Leal and Trey Galloway along with five Hoosiers fans in involved came down to a final three of Garzon, Johnson and a student and Garzon knocked out Johnson to win the competition. McKeown interview Sydney Parrish and asked her what makes Indiana so special “It starts with the fans” Parrish said. Two students had a chance to win free tuition by hitting a half-court shot but neither one was able to hit it the first time and were given a second chance but they both came up short. The evening ended with concert by Atlanta Georgia based rapper Gucci Mane. Fans enjoyed the evening as the Hoosiers host Indianapolis Sunday October 29 at 1 pm and the Women host Northwood on Wednesday November 1, at 7pm before the Men have a second exhibition game against Marian University on Friday November 3, at 6:30pm.
Indiana University Men’s Soccer earn big three points at Maryland Friday night
Sunday, the winning goal came in the 82nd minute. Friday it was the 83rd. Either way, the Indiana men’s soccer team keeps stacking wins and surging up the Big Ten table. The flaming hot Samuel Sarver scored the match-winner to give the Hoosiers (7-3-4, 3-1-2 B1G) their fourth straight victory, a 2-1 result over Maryland (3-7-3, 0-5-2 B1G) Friday night on Ludwig Field. With the win, Indiana jumped into second place in the conference standings with two chances to make up two points on current leader Michigan State. Freshman defender Alex Barger scored his first-career goal from a set piece to give the Hoosiers a lead in the 54th minute. Maryland equalized against the run of play in the 69th minute before senior Karsen Henderlong found Sarver wide open down the right in transition, and the junior scored his third goal in four games. With the win, Indiana clinched a Big Ten Tournament berth.
A Maryland shot from distance that went just high was the closest chance in the first half as the teams combined for three shots in the opening 45 minutes. A minute in to the second half the terps had a chance 30 seconds after the break, but the shot trickled just wide. In the 54th minute Indiana took the lead via its third straight goal scored from a set piece. The Hoosiers won a throw-in down the left side of their attacking third, and junior midfielder Patrick McDonald launched the ball toward the edge of the six-yard box. It found the head of senior defender Jansen Miller, who flicked it across. Barger jumped in front of his mark and headed it past the keeper. In the 69th Minute IU got caught on a counter in conceding the equalizer. UM freshman forward Luke Van Heukelum dribbled box-to-box before passing to sophomore defender Brian St. Martin on the right wing. St. Martin crossed, and senior forward Stefan Copetti got just enough to nudge it past IU senior keeper JT Harms. In the 78th minute Maryland nearly took the lead from another transition moment, dispossessing IU in the final third. However, a shot from the top of the 18 ran inches wide to keep the tie intact. In the 80th Minute Patrick McDonald shot from distance pinged off the top of the crossbar. In the 83rd minutes a pass came to Henderlong as the furthest man up the field. A Terrapin challenged him and put the ball in the air. Henderlong stayed with it and volleyed it to Sarver running free down the right wing. Sarver controlled, put it on his left and pushed it around the keeper.
Indiana improved to 8-5-8 against Maryland all-time. Sarver tallied his fifth goal contribution during IU’s four-match win streak and his third goal in that span. The junior leads IU with six goals, four assists and 12 points. Barger opened his IU account. He is the lone member of the IU back-line to start all 14 matches. Henderlong has tallied four goal contributions in IU’s last five matches with his first assist of the season Friday. Miller earned his first-career assist and first point of the season. Another three points are up for grabs Tuesday when IU travels to Evanston to face No. 12-ranked Northwestern. Kickoff is set for 8pm on the Big Ten Network.
Rutgers Runs all over Indiana University Football 31-14
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights beat the Indiana Hoosiers 31-14 at Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon. Rutgers goes to 6-2 and 3-2 in the Big Ten and becomes bowl eligible. The Hoosiers are 2-5 and 0-4 in the Big Ten with a trip to Penn State next week as their chances for a bowl game are starting to slip away. Rutgers has won the last three matchups against the Hoosiers and are 3-2 all time in Bloomington against the Hoosiers to go along with wins in 2015 and 2021. It was homecoming on the IU Campus but not the result that fans wanted to see from the Football team with more and more questions to be asked as another tough season continues. Tom Allen said earlier in the week that he was going to stick with one quarterback, and he did that starting Brendan Sorsby who finished 15-31 passing for 126 yards with a touchdown pass and no interceptions.
The Hoosiers started off the game with a nine play 75-yard drive that was capped off with Brendan Sorsby Touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr with 11:28 left in the first quarter to make it 7-0. The Scarlet Knights responded a 15 play 75-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown run by Quarterback Gavin Wimsatt to make it 7-7 with 3:19 left in a drive that lasted eight minutes and nine seconds. Indiana was backed up on a fourth and 13 at their own 32-yard own line when James Evans punt was blocked by Shaquan Loyal and picked up by Eric Rogers for a touchdown to make it 14-7 with 14:53 left in the second quarter to make it 14-7. The Hoosiers tied the game with a four-yard touchdown run by Sorsby to make 14-14 with 3:58 left before halftime. The Hoosiers Louis Moore was ejected for targeting with 1:36 left in the second quarter to already hurt the Hoosiers Secondary with Noah Pierre taken off the field on a cart earlier in the game. Jaylin Lucas muffed a punt return and Scarlet Knights recovered the ball at the Hoosiers 20-yard line with 28 seconds left before halftime. Rutgers scored with no time on 21-yard field goal by Jai Patel to make it 17-14 at the break.
In the Second Half the Scarlet Knights used a 6 play 75-yard play that took six minutes and 15 seconds as Gavin Wimsatt scored his second rushing touchdown of the day from one yard out with 8:45 left in the Third Quarter. The Hoosiers punted twice and Rutgers once on the next three series. Gavin Wimsatt took off on 80-yard run to score this third touchdown of the day to make it 31-14 with 13:11 left in a series that took 2 plays and a minute and nine seconds. Indiana had a 14-yard 66-yard drive that took 3:14 that ended in a turnover on downs when Brendan Sorsby threw an incomplete pass intended to DeQuece Carter with 52 seconds left as the Scarlet Knights kneeled the ball twice to end the game.
Trent Howland led the Hoosiers with 53 yards on 9 carries. Sorsby had 11 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown. The Hoosiers had five different ball carriers for a total of 153 yards on 29 carries. Jaylin Lucas had 5 catches for 16 yards, DeQueece Carter had 3 catches for 21 yards and Trent Howland 2 catches for 20 yards. Omar Cooper Jr, James Bomba, Aaron Steinfeldt Cam Camper and Christian Turner had 1 catch each for a combined 69 yards. Gavin Wimsatt and Kyle Monangai combined for 252 of the 276 rushing yards for Rutgers. Wimsatt had 16 carries for 143 yards and three touchdowns while Monangai had 109 yards on 24 carries as the Scarlet Knights ran the ball 55 times. Wimsatt was 5-12 passing for 39 yards. Christian Dremel had 2 catches for 14 yards. Jashon Benjamin, JaQuae Jackson and Johnny Langan all had a one catch for a combined 25 yards.
Edgewood Football Season ends with a 46-21 loss to Jennings County in the Sectional
The Edgewood Mustangs Football Season came to a close Friday Night with a 46-21 loss to the Jennings County Panthers in the Class 4A Sectional First Round Friday Night in North Vernon, Indiana. Edgewood ends the year 2-8 while Jennings County is 5-5 and will travel to 5-5 Greenwood next week for the Sectional Semifinals after the Woodmen won at Connersville 49-20 in their first-round matchup.
Jennings County scored on the opening drive and never looked back as Branden Braun scored three first quarter touchdowns and two-point conversion. Braun had 157 yards when he scored the third touchdown. The Panthers added another score when Sam Burkman took a 13 yard inside handoff to the end zone to make it 26-0 after the first quarter. Edgewood had 4 yards of offense and three turnovers after the first 1st quarter while Jennings County had 201 yards with all but eight of those yards coming on the ground. Braun added his fourth touchdown of the night with 7:59 left in the second quarter to make it 33-0. Edgewood got on the board when Grant Coffey found Nehemiah Strunk on a 28-yard touchdown pass with 4:04 left before the break to make it 33-7. Jennings County responded as Branden Braun took it 40 yards for his fifth touchdown of the night to make 40-7 with 3:45 left before halftime. Braun had 229 yards and 5 touchdowns at that point. Edgewood went for it on 4th and 10 at midfield and were unable to convert. Dylan Wickens had a sack for the Mustangs and then Grant Coffey turned the ball over to end the half to send the Mustangs down 46-7 and four first half turnovers. The Panthers had 335 yards rushing on 29 carries with Branden Braun going for 281 yards on 21 carries and added a sixth rushing touchdown going into halftime. The Panthers were 2-3 through the air for 9 yards and 13 first downs. Edgewood had 2 first downs and only 9 yards rushing on 8 carries in the first half. Grant Coffey was 5-15 passing for 52 yards and 3 interceptions as Nehemiah Strunk had all the Mustangs receiving yards.
In the Second Half Edgewood scored on its opening drive when Coffey found Strunk on a four-yard strike to make it 46-14 with 5:40 left in the Third Quarter. The Mustangs added another Coffey to Strunk touchdown pass for 30 yards to end the Third quarter as neither team scored in the fourth quarter and Jennings County got its seventh all time sectional win in school history. The Panthers have only won one Sectional Semifinal Matchup and that came in 2000 to Franklin County 16-13 before losing to East Central on the road 35-0 in the championship game. In the other semifinal matchup next Friday, it will be top ranked and unbeaten East Central traveling to Martinsville. East Central dominated 3-7 Shelbyville 62-7 while 7-3 Martinsville beat 6-4 Silver Creek 28-14. In Class 5A Bloomington South and Bloomington North will face off in the Class 5A Sectional 15 Semifinals while Seymour takes on Columbus East in the other semifinal.
#19 Indiana University Women’s Soccer falls at #4 Penn State
No. 19 Indiana (11-2-4, 5-2-2 B1G) fell to No. 4 Penn State, 2-0, at Jeffery Field on Thursday evening. Junior midfielder Olivia Rush saw Indiana’s first chance on goal in the 18th minute as she received a pass inside the center of the field, taking a strike just outside the 18-yard box before the Nittany Lions’ graduate goalkeeper Katherine Asman made the save. Penn State (12-0-4, 6-0-3 B1G) found the back of the net first with a goal in the 20th minute after earning a free kick off an Indiana yellow card just outside the 18-yard box. Freshman midfielder Elle Britt opened the half with another dangerous strike in the 47th minute. She fired one at the top center of the net, but Asman would another grab. PSU extended the lead as they found the back of the net again in the 81st minute to seal it. The Hoosiers recorded eight shots with two on goal. Graduate forward Paige Webber led the team with three shots. Junior goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg picked up three saves reaching 130 on her career.
Five Star Point Guard Boogie Fland commits to the University of Kentucky over Indiana and Alabama
Boogie Fland announced his commitment to Kentucky on Friday at Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, N.Y. Fland, a five-star recruit and arguably the top high school point guard, picked the Wildcats over finalists Indiana and Alabama. He joins a Kentucky recruiting class of 2024 that includes four-star center Somto Cyril, the nation’s No. 52 player from Overtime Elite in Atlanta, Ga. Coach John Calipari has been known for landing highly ranked recruits for years, and he’s continued that with Fland, Cyril and a 2023 class that features four players ranked within the top 16. For Indiana, missing out on Fland takes one of its final and most important recruiting targets off the board. Coach Mike Woodson and the Indiana staff visited Fland multiple times over the last few months, but ultimately fell short.
Woodson picked up a key commitment from five-star small forward Liam McNeeley last Sunday, but that’s Indiana’s only player committed in the class of 2024. The Hoosiers are hoping to land five-star center Derik Queen, whose teammates with McNeeley at Montverde Academy in Florida. Queen has an official visit scheduled to Maryland over the weekend, a school that has been considered the favorite for Queen. It is currently unclear exactly when Queen will announce his college decision. McNeeley, Fland and Queen have been Indiana’s top recruiting targets for months, and it could be difficult to re-enter any recruitment this late in the cycle.
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