Local Sports News: December 11, 2023

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Teri Moren gets her 100th Conference win as #16 Ranked Indiana Women’s Basketball wins Big Ten opener at Rutgers
The 16th Ranked Indiana Hoosiers beat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 66-56 Saturday afternoon at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey. Teri Moren gets her 100th Big Ten Conference win and her 208th win in her 10th season as Indiana Women’s Basketball head coach which are program records. The Hoosiers are 8-1 on the season and 1-0 in the Big Ten and will take a nine-day break for final exams as they will host the Evansville Purple Aces on Monday December 18, at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.  Indiana has won seven in a row and have won five in a row against Rutgers and have an 8-6 lead over the Scarlet Knights all-time in the series. 

Mackenize Holmes scored 25 points and pulled down 8 rebounds. Syndey Parrish had a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Yarden Garzon and Chloe Moore-McNeil added 11 points each and Sara Scalia scored 5 points as Indiana used an eight-player rotation and starters scored all 66 points while Lilly Meister, Lexus Bargesser and Lenee Beaumont did not score. Indiana finished 26-54 from the field for 48%, 3-16 from three-point range for 18% and 11-18 from the free throw line for 61%. The Hoosiers pulled down 33 rebounds, dished out 19 assists, 6 steals, 5 blocks and committed 11 turnovers.

Rutgers, who is 6-6 overall and 0-1 in the Big Ten, got 19 points from Kaylene Smikle, 11 points from Antonia Bates, and 10 points apiece from Destiny Adams and Kassondra Brown. The Scarlet Knights finished 22-54 from the field for 40%, 5-14 from three-point range for 35% and 7-13 from the free throw line for 53%. Rutgers pulled down 30 rebounds, dished out 11 assists, 4 blocks, 3 steals and committed 14 turnovers. Rutgers used eight players and Brown’s 10 points were the only bench points of the game for either team.

Rutgers led 10-9 after the first quarter. The Hoosiers outscored the Scarlet Knights 18-12 in the second quarter and took a 27-22 lead into the locker room. Indiana outscored Rutgers 22-19 in the third quarter to lead 49-41 after three quarters. The Hoosiers would hang on finishing the fourth quarter outscoring Rutgers 17-15. Rutgers never went away the Scarlet Knights are always a physical team, and they will make you work for everything on both ends of the floor. There were two ties and three lead changes as both teams who averaged over 70 points per game made this a defensive battle.   

The Hoosiers are 20-21 all time in Big Ten Openers and have won six straight dating back to the 2018-19 and this was their first Big Ten Opener on the road in five seasons. Mackenize Holmes has scored 2,068 career points and needs 296 points to surpass Tyra Buss as the all-time scoring leader in Indiana University Women’s basketball History.  Holmes is so dominate in the low post and when she gets that ball inside, she is hard to stop even when she is doubled, and triple teamed. she finished 12-15 from the field and 1-1 from the free throw line. 

Auburn overcomes slow start to cruise past Indiana  The Auburn Tigers dominated the Indiana Hoosiers 104-76 Saturday Afternoon in the Holiday Hoops Giving event at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta Georgia. Auburn improves to 6-2 on the season and Indiana drops to 7-2 and will face the #2 Kansas Jayhawks next Saturday Afternoon at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.  It’s the first time since 112-110 double overtime at Syracuse on November 30, 2021, that the Hoosiers have given up over 100 points in a game. This was the first ever regular season meeting between these two teams and just the second all-time meeting. Indiana beat Auburn 107-90 in the Second Round of the 1987 NCAA Tournament at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

The Hoosiers came out red hot from the three-point line scoring their first 12 points on three-point baskets. Indiana led 16-6 with 15:12 left in the first half. Indiana led 22-10 with 12:57 left in the opening half which was thier largest led of the game. Auburn chipped away at the lead and outscored the Hoosiers 16-4 as Denver Jones second free throw tied the game 26-26 with 8:13 left in the first half. The Tigers would take the lead on K.D. Johnson’s free throws and led 28-26 at the 7:43 mark. the Tigers outscored the Hoosiers 14-8 to lead 52-34 at halftime. 

In the second half Indiana got within 11 points at 55-44 when Malik Reneau scored inside with 16:38 left in the game as the Hoosiers were on a 10-3 run. Auburn scored the next five points to put the Tigers up 14 and increased the lead from there as the Hoosiers were outscored 52-42 in the second half. Auburn went over the century mark with 2:26 left to put the Tigers up 101-71 which was the Tigers largest lead of the game. Auburn controlled the basketball committing just 3 turnovers while the Hoosiers had 12. 

Malik Reneau led the Hoosiers with 15 points, Kel’el Ware added 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Gabe Cupps scored 11 points as he started his third straight game filling in for Xavier Johnson who remains out with a foot injury. Freshman Mackenzie Mgbako added 10 points. Kaleb Banks scored 4 points in 16 minutes in his return to his home state. Banks is from Hampton Georgia and was one of four Hoosiers along with injured Freshman Jakai Netwon and Assistant Coach Yasir Rosemond who all hail from the Peach State. Head Coach Mike Woodson returned the building where he was Head Coach of the Atlanta Hawks for six seasons from 2204-10. 

Indiana finished 24-56 from the field for 49%, 6-17 from three-point range for 35% and 22-29 from the free throw line for 75%. Indiana pulled down 35 rebounds, dished out 14 assists, 4 Blocks and 2 steals. The Hoosiers had 30 points in the paint. The Hoosiers had 21 points off the bench as Bloomington native Anthony Leal scored his first points of the season hitting two free throws.

Auburn got 24 points apiece from Jaylin Wiliams and Aden Holloway. K.D. Johnson scored 14 points of the bench for Tigers, Denver Jones added 12 points, Chad Baker-Marza scored 11 points and Tre Donaldson added 10 points for Tigers team that put six players in double figures. Auburn finished 34-72 from the field for 48%, 14-29 from three-point range for 48% and 20-23 from the free throw line for 87%. Auburn pulled down 39 rebounds, dished out 25 assists, 8 steals and 3 blocks. 

Former Indiana University Men’s Soccer player Adian Morris wins MLS Cup with the Columbus Crew
For the second time in his young pro career, Indiana men’s soccer alum Aidan Morris is an MLS Cup Champion. Morris and Columbus Crew SC defeated defending champion LAFC 2-1 in the MLS Cup Final Saturday night at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. Morris started and played all 90 minutes of the match.  The title marks the second in four seasons for Morris and the Crew. Morris signed a homegrown contract with Columbus on January 14, 2020, following his freshman season at IU before helping his club get to the final as a rookie. In that final, a 3-0 victory over Seattle Sounders, Morris became the youngest player to start an MLS Cup Final at 19 years old.

A trophy ties a bow on a season in which Morris established himself as one of the best midfielders in Major League Soccer. At the end of the regular season, Morris ranked third in the league in tackles won (58), fourth in accurate pass percentage (92.0) and tied-for-21st in interceptions (44). Morris was named an MLS All-Star and finalist for MLS Young Player of the Year and ranked No. 3 in the league’s 22-Under-22 list. In January, Morris received his first call-up to the United States Men’s National Team before earning his first cap against Serbia that same month. Since, he’s earned three more roster calls – including a spot on the USMNT’s Gold Cup roster – and has made four total appearances for the national team. In October, Morris was called to the United States Olympic training camp as the national team builds up to the 2024 Games.

Morris is one of six Hoosiers to win an MLS Cup as a Columbus Crew player. Four Hoosiers – Pat Noonan, Brian Plotkin and Danny O’Rourke and Jed Zayner were part of the Crew’s first league title in 2008. Grant Lillard was Morris’ teammate during the 2020 title. Current Indiana men’s soccer head coach Todd Yeagley, who coached Morris during his lone IU season in 2019, helped Columbus win its first trophy; the 2002 U.S. Open Cup. Yeagley played seven seasons for the Crew from 1996-2002.

Indiana University Wrestling Beats Central Michigan to improve to 3-0
Indiana fought off an early deficit to take a dominant win over Central Michigan, 25-15, on Saturday afternoon at Wilkinson Hall. The Hoosiers trailed 6-0 after the first two bouts but won eight of the last ten matches to secure a victory by double-digits. Three Hoosiers pulled out bonus-point victories, Dan Fongaro and Gabe Sollars each won by fall and DJ Washington won by major decision. Washington and Graham Rooks also won over ranked opponents. With the win, Indiana improves to 3-0 in duals on the season. This is the second season in a row where the Hoosiers have begun with a 3-0 or better mark.

Down 6-0, Indiana was in dire need of a win, and graduate student No. 27 Dan Fongaro (141) delivered. Only up 1-0 heading into the third period, Fongaro took control against Ja’Kerion Merrit, taking him down and then securing a four-point near fall before pinning him. The fall (6:17) tied the team score at 6-6.
Graduate student No. 13 Graham Rooks (149) earned his biggest win of the season over No. 16 Corbyn Munson in a 2-1 decision. Rooks trailed 1-0 after two periods and started on bottom in the third period. Rooks reversed Munson and held on to his 2-1 lead for the remainder of the match. Senior No. 9 Derej Gilcher (165) was in control from start to finish against Tyler Swiderski. Gilcher started out quickly with a first period takedown and added on to his lead with another takedown and an escape to win by decision, 7-2. Showing no fear, redshirt senior No. 10 DJ Washington (174) opened his match against No. 18 Alex Cramer with a seven-point swing in the first period as Washington took him down and had a four-point near-fall. DJ would score on another two takedowns en route to a 15-4 major decision victory. Redshirt sophomore Roman Rogotzke (184) had a back-and-forth bout against Cody Brenner that ended up with Rogotzke on top, 7-5. Down 4-1 entering the third period, Rogotzke evened the score by way of a second stall on Brenner, a penalty on a potentially dangerous call and an escape. He then took Brenner down in the closing seconds of the bout to earn the win. It didn’t take long for redshirt freshman Gabe Sollars (197) to get the job done. Sollars pulled out a first period pin over Luke Cochran at the 2:54 mark.  

Gilcher and Washington are both still undefeated with Gilcher being 7-0 and Washington at 3-0. All of Washington’s wins have been bonus-point victories, including two tech falls and one win by major decision. Sollars’ win was his fifth pin of the year. G. Rooks and Washington each took wins over ranked opponents. Rooks defeated No. 16 Corbyn Munson and Washington defeated No. 18 Alex Cramer. Indiana improved to 12-4 all time against Central Michigan. Indiana Wrestling will next compete in the Sheridan Invitational tournament on Friday, Dec. 22 in Bethlehem, Pa.

Indiana University Men’s Soccer player Samuel Sarver earns All-American Honors
Indiana men’s soccer junior forward Samuel Sarver earned United Soccer Coaches third-team All-America honors, the coaches association announced Friday. Indiana has produced an All-American in each of the last 10 seasons – the nation’s longest active streak – as well as 13 of the last 14 seasons. During the 10-year run, 12 different Hoosiers have combined for 17 All-America honors. Sarver is the 50th Indiana player to earn All-America status, with those 50 players having totaled 78 honors in 51 seasons.  

Sarver was IU’s leading producer in 2023, collecting career-highs in goals (8), assists (6) and points (22). He ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten in goals, points, game-winning goals (5), No. 3 in assists and shots (51) and fifth in shots on goal (20). His five goals in conference play tied for the league’s best.  In a nine-game split between October 7 and November 12, Sarver totaled nine goal contributions (five goals, four assists) in nine games, a span in which the Hoosiers went 8-1 and rallied to win the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles. Sarver was named first-team All-Big Ten at the conclusion of the regular season. In the conference tournament, he tallied a goal or assist in each of the three matches to earn Big Ten Offensive Player of the Tournament honors.

With 19 goals and 14 assists, Sarver has totaled 52 points in his career. This season he became the 50th Hoosier to reach the 50-points milestone and the first junior to do it since Nikita Kotlov in 2012. In 2022, Sarver scored four goals, all against ranked opponents, and added four assists. During his first season in cream and crimson, Sarver led all conference freshmen with seven goals which ranked No. 2 on the team. He also had four assists.

United Soccer Coaches/NSCAA All-Americans
Indiana Men’s Soccer – Last 10 Years

YearAll-American
2023Samuel Sarver
2022Daniel Munie
2021Roman Celentano
Daniel Munie
2020-21Victor Bezerra
Roman Celentano
Spencer Glass
2019Jack Maher
Aidan Morris
2018Trey Muse
Andrew Gutman
Griffin Dorsey
2017Grant Lillard
Andrew Gutman
2016Tanner Thompson
2015Tanner Thompson
2014Tanner Thompson

Indiana University Track and Field opens the season with a strong performance in the Indiana Early Bird Meet
The Hoosiers started the season off strong in the Indiana Early Bird Meet, posting 30 personal bests in and one school record at Gladstein Fieldhouse at the season opening Indiana Early Bird Meet on Friday. Freshmen multi-event duo Garrett Messer and Max Grangier powered through in their first career pentathlon as they set personal bests in the five events: 60-meter hurdles, shot put, long jump, high jump and the 1000-meter race. Alex Smith finished second in the men’s long jump event with a mark of 7.11/23-04.00. Teammate Grayson Rolen ended with a runner-up finish in the high jump along with a first-time appearance from freshman Deepak Laungani who posted a height of 2.00m/6-06.75 to start his collegiate career.

Hunter Smith set a new personal best in the weight throw recording a mark of 18.16m/59-07.00 in his final attempt. Kenisha Phillips set the school record in the 300 meters in her debut with the Hoosiers. She ran a time of 37.41 as she lowered her personal best to pass Alyssa Robinsons’ time of 38.08 set in 2022. Hunter Smith set a new personal best in the weight throw recording a mark of 18.16m/59-07.00 in his final attempt. Antonio Laidler (6.67) set a new personal best to win the 60 meters. He owns the third best time in program history.  John Colquitt (8.14) showed out in the 60-meter Hurdles with a second-place finish. Jessica Mercier opened her season by clearing 4.20m/13-09.25. She holds the fourth highest clearance in the NCAA to open the season. She attempted three tries at 4.27 m/14-0 for a personal best but missed on the opportunity. Mercier moved up to No. five highest clearance in program in the women’s Pole Vault. Novo Onovwersuoke won the 300 meters with a personal best time of 34.56 in his debut with the cream and crimson. He now owns the ninth fastest time in the event for the Hoosiers.

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