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Malik Reneau, Xavier Johnson lead Indiana past Ohio State in Big Ten showdown

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Malik Reneau, Xavier Johnson lead Indiana past Ohio State in Big Ten showdown


Less than two minutes into the second half of Saturday night’s Big Ten showdown between Indiana and Ohio State, Hoosiers head coach Mike Woodson called a timeout. The Buckeyes had come firing out of the locker room, scoring eight unanswered points to take a 46-37 lead.

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Woodson and the Hoosiers learned the hard way back in mid-December just how tough it is to put up 40 complete minutes against a heavyweight when their upset bid fell just short against Kansas. 

Now, while the Buckeyes aren’t the Jayhawks, Chris Holtmann’s team still entered the game at 12-2. 

Was it going to be the same refrain for an Indiana team that lacked a signature moment this season? 

Not on Saturday night. Indiana showed resilience. 

The Hoosiers punched back behind sophomore forward Malik Reneau, who scored 19 of his game-high 23 points in the final 18 minutes to lead IU past Ohio State for a 71-65 victory. It marked the first time Indiana has defeated the Buckeyes in back-to-back meetings since 2016-17. 

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What does the win mean? 

Indiana, which is listed in Mike Decourcy’s “Next Four Out” in his latest bracket forecast, really needed this game to get the momentum of the season headed back in the right direction after a 16-point loss at Nebraska on Wednesday. The victory helped the Hoosiers improve to 11-0 against Quadrants 2, 3 and 4. They still have work to do, with an 0-4 record against Quad 1, but this was a much-needed result. 

Here are three takeaways from the Hoosiers’ victory over the Buckeyes: 

Malik Reneau is as improved as any player in the Big Ten Conference. 

Woodson challenged the 6-foot-9 forward in the preseason to be an every-game guy. The former four-star recruit has gone from 6.1 points per game as a freshman to 16.1 per game as a sophomore, while raising his passing numbers to close to three assists per game. Posting 23-plus points in three of his last four games, Reneau has not only accumulated big-time numbers, but he’s done it efficiently, shooting 63% from the floor in Saturday’s win. He was the key to an extended 25-8 Indiana run that spanned 13 minutes in the second half, including a game-tying triple to even things up at 48 with just over 12 minutes left. 

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How did Reneau respond in the second half? 

“I’ll let Coach (Woodson) take all the credit for that,” Indiana senior Xavier Johnson said following the win. “He told him, ‘You’ve got to pick your game up. You’re not playing as well.’” 

Woodson has been hard on his talented sophomore, but it has paid off and is a display of player development in Bloomington. 

“He put a lot of work in. He never really left campus. Got his weight down,” Woodson said. “The baby fat he had last year is trimmed down. You’ve got to tip your hat to him.” 

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Indiana Hoosiers Highlights

For Indiana to reach the NCAA Tournament, it still starts and ends with Xavier Johnson. 

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So much of what Indiana did last year was geared around Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino, but when Johnson went down with a right foot fracture, it really hurt the Hoosiers’ ceiling. Johnson has missed seven games this year with a leg injury, and we can only wonder what would have happened against Kansas had he been able to play in the 75-71 loss back on Dec. 16. 

But on Saturday night, Johnson reinforced that he is the Hoosiers’ most important piece. After a silent performance in his return on Wednesday against Nebraska, the sixth-year senior awoke and came up huge, looking like the player he needs to be for this team to go dancing come March. 

In 34 minutes of action, Johnson put together the following stat line: 18 points, 4-of-9 FG, 8-of-11 FT, three assists, three rebounds, one steal, one block, and not a single turnover.

Johnson, who confirmed on Saturday night that he had a crack in his foot that sidelined him for a month, was candid postgame. 

“I gotta grow up, and I grew up tonight, and gotta keep growing,” Johnson said. “Coach Woodson expects a lot out of me and I’m gonna give everything from here on out.”

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With very winnable games against Rutgers and Minnesota ahead before a home matchup against No. 1 Purdue on Jan. 16, Johnson took a significant step forward on Saturday night. A Hoosiers team that has been offensively challenged at times needs that type of production going forward. 

Indiana’s defense, a night to forget for the Buckeye sophomore stars, and the questions with Chris Holtmann’s team.

Indiana entered the night ranked 12th in the Big Ten in scoring defense. In Woodson’s first two years, he had a top-50 unit in the country on that end of the floor, according to Ken Pomeroy. So far this season? The Hoosiers’ defense ranks 93rd nationally. That’s not good enough, and it has pained Woodson to see. 

On Saturday night, we saw vintage Hoosier defense at Assembly Hall. 

Indiana locked down Ohio State’s sophomore duo of Roddy Gayle Jr. and Bruce Thornton, holding them to a combined 7-for-34 from the floor and 0-for-12 from 3-point land. It was a night to forget for both of the Buckeyes’ second-year stars.

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But to take it one step further, it was a disappointing night for Holtmann’s team in general. Ohio State fell to 12-3 with the loss and lack a great result on the season. Eleven of the Buckeyes’ victories have come against Quadrant 3 and 4 teams. This would have been a second Quad 1 result, but instead, it dropped OSU to 2-2 in the Big Ten and leaves some questions for a team that has yet to prove it can be a legit contender come March.

Indiana’s CJ Gunn throws down an EMPHATIC jam to trim the deficit vs. Ohio State

John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, from calling games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him on Twitter @John_Fanta.



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How Purdue Fans Can Watch Isaiah Hill vs. Luke Ertel in Indiana All-Star Game

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How Purdue Fans Can Watch Isaiah Hill vs. Luke Ertel in Indiana All-Star Game


Two future Boilermakers are taking the floor and will go head-to-head during Indiana All-Star Week. 2026 signee Luke Ertel and 2027 commit Isaiah Hill are battling it out on Wednesday, June 3, as the Indiana All-Stars will play the Indiana Junior All-Stars.

Wednesday will be the third time Ertel and Hill have played against each other this season. During the IHSAA basketball season, Ertel’s Mt. Vernon team took on Hill’s Pike squad twice.

Hill led the Red Devils to an 84-81 overtime victory during the regular season. In the Regional of the Class 4A IHSAA Basketball Tournament, Ertel guided Mt. Vernon to a 57-54 overtime victory. The Marauders went on to win the state championship.

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Who will win the third and decisive battle between the future Boilermakers on Wednesday? Here’s the information necessary to watch the game.

How to watch the Indiana All-Star Game

  • What — Indiana Junior All-Stars vs. Indiana All-Stars
  • When — Wednesday, June 3, 2026
  • Where — Mt. Vernon High School in Fortville, Ind.
  • Tipoff time — 8 p.m. ET (approx.)
  • Ticket price — $15
  • Stream — ISC Indiana Sports Network YouTube Channel

Hill participated in Indiana-Kentucky Jr. All-Star Game

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Pike Red Devils Isaiah Hill (30) reacts to the ball going out of bounds. | Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Wednesday night’s Junior-Senior All-Star Game will be the second time Hill has competed during Indiana All-Star Week. The Pike star and five-star center also played in Sunday’s Indiana-Kentucky Junior All-Star Game.

Hill put together a solid performance, scoring 15 points, grabbing a team-high seven rebounds and recording three blocks. His efforts helped lead Indiana to a 109-99 victory over Kentucky.

Ertel and the Indiana All-Stars have not yet played during Indiana All-Star Week, with their first game scheduled for Wednesday against the Junior All-Stars. Then, to close out the week, Ertel will participate in the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Series, with games being played in Lexington and Indianapolis.

Ertel, Hill highly rated recruits in respective classes

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Mt. Vernon guards Owen Daugherty (14) and Luke Ertel (12) celebrate. | Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

There’s already plenty of hype surrounding Ertel and Hill, both players who are highly-ranked recruits in their respective classes.

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Ertel is the top-ranked player from Indiana in the 2026 recruiting class and is considered a top-50 prospect by 247Sports. He was named Indiana Mr. Basketball, averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in his senior season at Mt. Vernon.

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Hill is a year younger, but became the highest-ranked recruit ever to commit to play at Purdue. The 2027 product was a star at Pike High School during his junior season, averaging 12.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game. He is a five-star prospect and ranked as the No. 10 player in the class, per ESPN.

Get top Boilermakers stories, expert analysis, and can’t-miss moments straight to your inbox for free by signing up for the Purdue Boilermakers on SI newsletter!

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Indiana man charged with rape after allegedly assaulting 18-year-old woman in barn

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Indiana man charged with rape after allegedly assaulting 18-year-old woman in barn


GASTON, Ind. (WKRC) – An Indiana man was accused of sexually assaulting a young homeless woman in a barn.

According to WXIN, 34-year-old Dale E. Bosworth was arrested after he allegedly sexually assaulted a homeless 18-year-old woman in a barn after the two connected through social media.

WXIN reported that Bosworth picked up the woman on May 24 while visiting Kokomo, Indiana, and brought her back to his home after seeing a Facebook post in which she said she had no money and nowhere to stay.

Court documents obtained and reviewed by WXIN state that Bosworth and his wife picked up the woman in a truck around 10 p.m. and drove her to their home. The woman stayed the night and was later offered $100 to perform work in a barn in Delaware County.

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According to WXIN, Bosworth drove the woman to a friend’s barn in Gaston, Indiana. While the two were alone, Bosworth allegedly asked if she wanted to “fool around.” The woman told law enforcement she did not respond to the question. Bosworth then allegedly began rubbing her back and unzipped his overalls.

WXIN reported that Bosworth is accused of sexually assaulting the woman until he heard a noise near the barn. He later allegedly told his friend that the woman was refusing to work and that he needed to take her back to his home.

During the drive back to Marion, Indiana, the woman used the “Texty” app to contact Grant County 911 and reported that she had been raped, according to WXIN.

Authorities in Grant County then contacted the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies later located and stopped Bosworth’s vehicle, per the report.

While being questioned by investigators, Bosworth reportedly admitted that the woman had stayed at his home. Court documents reviewed by WXIN state that he spent “well over 20 minutes” explaining how he came to be alone with the alleged victim while denying any sexual contact.

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When asked whether his DNA would be found on the woman’s body, Bosworth allegedly admitted to certain sexual acts. According to WXIN, he told investigators that the woman “did not say yes or no” when he asked her to undress and engage in sexual intercourse, but claimed she “looked at him” when he asked.

Authorities said Bosworth later admitted to portions of the assault after initially providing false statements and reportedly told investigators that “cops freak him out,” according to the report.

Bosworth was arrested and charged with the following, per WXIN:

According to WXIN, investigators determined that Bosworth knowingly and intentionally caused the woman to submit to sexual conduct, which constitutes rape under Indiana law.

He is being held without bond at the Delaware County Jail, WXIN reported.

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Jeffrey Kessler Questions NCAA Consistency Using Indiana Coach Betting Case

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Jeffrey Kessler Questions NCAA Consistency Using Indiana Coach Betting Case


During closing arguments in Brendan Sorsby’s injunction hearing on Monday, Sorsby’s attorney Jeffrey Kessler pointed to a recent NCAA gambling case involving former Indiana assistant volleyball coach Brett Agne. Kessler argued it demonstrated a stark contrast in how the NCAA has handled gambling-related violations with different cases.

Details in Agne Case

Kessler referenced Agne, who, according to NCAA findings, placed more than 700 sports wagers totaling over $327,000 during a five-month period while employed by Indiana. NCAA investigators determined that 27 of those wagers involved Indiana football and men’s basketball games.

Despite Agne admitting he knowingly engaged in prohibited sports wagering activity after receiving NCAA gambling education, the NCAA’s negotiated resolution stopped short of a lengthy suspension. Instead, the penalties included a two-year show-cause order with a mandatory sports betting education, a requirement that he provide gambling education to his peers, and a suspension of only 10 regular-season matches, roughly 30 percent of Indiana’s volleyball season.

“A two-year show-cause order for Agne, in which any employing member school must require Agne to complete meaningful sports betting education and provide sports betting education to his peers,” the NCAA’s penalty summary stated.

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How It Compares/Differs from Sorsby’s Case

Kessler used the case to argue that the NCAA has previously treated gambling violations as opportunities for education and rehabilitation rather than imposing season-long competitive penalties.

The comparison was particularly notable given Brendan Sorsby’s circumstances. The Texas Tech quarterback recently completed a residential treatment program for a gambling addiction and has publicly detailed his recovery efforts since completing the program. Kessler argued that while Agne’s case resulted in educational requirements and a limited suspension despite hundreds of wagers and more than $327,000 in betting activity, Sorsby faces the possibility of losing the rest of his collegiate eligibility.

The comparison became even more notable when examining how the NCAA described Agne’s defense. According to the NCAA report, Agne stated that he used an unregulated computer program that automatically placed wagers based on an algorithm and claimed he was unaware of which games were being bet on, including the Indiana contests. Agne did not bet on his own team as Sorsby did, but Agne also did not acknowledge knowing which bets he was placing — a key distinction from Sorsby.

“Agne stated that he used an unregulated computer program to place bets on games automatically based on an algorithm, and as a result, he was not aware of which games he was betting on, including the Indiana games,” the NCAA’s report stated.

Also on Monday, Kessler emphasized Sorsby’s treatment efforts, revealing during the hearing that a Level-1 gambling treatment specialist diagnosed the Texas Tech quarterback with both a gambling addiction and an anxiety disorder while he was receiving residential care. Kessler argued that Sorsby’s case should be viewed through the lens of treatment and recovery, noting that Sorsby has acknowledged his mistakes rather than attempting to distance himself from them.

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Closing

Whether Judge Ken Curry ultimately agrees with Kessler’s comparison remains to be seen, but the Indiana case served as a centerpiece of Kessler’s closing argument on Monday. A decision on Brendan Sorsby’s request for injunctive relief is expected in the coming days, with the ruling potentially determining whether the Texas Tech quarterback will be able to continue his collegiate career.


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