Indiana Frontcourt Dominates, Xavier Johnson Injured in 89-76 Win Over Harvard

Indiana leaned on its frontcourt trio of Mackenzie Mgbako, Malik Reneau and Kel’el Ware, who combined for 63 points in Sunday’s win over Harvard at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Some questioned Indiana coach Mike Woodson’s decision to start two forwards and a center after unconvincing wins over mid-major programs. Indiana’s offense at times looked clunky and didn’t produce enough 3-point attempts.

But Sunday’s 89-76 win over Harvard was the best piece of evidence in Woodson’s favor that Mackenzie Mgbako, Malik Reneau and Kel’el Ware, each 6-foot-8 or taller, can coexist successfully.

In a win that moved Indiana to 5-1, the trio combined for 63 points on 27-for-40 shooting and 20 rebounds, and it didn’t only come from simple post-ups on the block. Sure, Reneau went to his reliable lefty hook when he could, and Ware dunked over Harvard defenders several times. But Ware knocked down a 3-pointer and a mid-range jumper, and Mgbako also hit a three, though he missed four others.

Woodson has used the term “buddy ball” dating back to the last two seasons with Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson. Now Ware, Reneau and Mgbako are beginning to create a similar dynamic. Reneau dished five assists – the most flashy being an alley-oop to Ware, who also finished with three assists.

It was especially important for Indiana to be able to lean on its bigs, as point guard Xavier Johnson exited the game with 3:41 left in the first half and didn’t return. Woodson didn’t have an update on what looked like a foot or ankle injury to the sixth-year point guard who was listed questionable before the game.

Even with Johnson, Indiana’s defense got off to a slow start. Harvard drilled 8-of-17 3-point attempts in the first half, some of which were difficult shots, but others where Woodson said the Hoosiers weren’t “up to touch” enough. The result was a 40-39 halftime deficit, where breakdowns in defensive rotations out to 3-point shooters showed themselves once again.

Harvard freshman point guard Malik Mack was a tough cover for anyone who tried – Johnson, Gabe Cupps, Trey Galloway and even six minutes of Anthony Leal. Mack scored nine of Harvard’s first 11 points of the second half, tying the game at 49 with free throws after Cupps fouled him on a jumper.

That’s when Indiana’s bigs really took over. Ware stretched the Harvard defense with a three, then Mgbako hit a pair of free throws to give Indiana a five-point lead. Ware continued to show his versatility with a face-up jumper near the free throw line, and Reneau excited the crowd by making a layup through contact.

While fans may have initially groaned at the missed free throw that followed, they cheered their loudest of the afternoon after Mgbako beat the Harvard defense to the rebound and made the putback through a foul. Mgbako made his free throw, the final basket of a 14-5 run that put the game away.

Indiana scored just one point more than Harvard over the final 13:07, but Harvard never trimmed the lead to less than seven points. The most notable difference in the second half was Harvard’s 1-for-9 3-point shooting. Mack still scored 19 second-half points, but the rest of the lineup was largely ineffective down the stretch.

It wasn’t the wire-to-wire blowout that some expect in these kinds of matchups, but the 13-point win was Indiana’s most convincing yet. And Harvard, ranked 134th nationally with three wins away from home, looks like an Ivy League contender.

The most promising outcome was the production Indiana got from its frontcourt. Ware finished with 28 points and eight rebounds; Mgbako was next with 18 points and eight rebounds; and Reneau added 17 points. If Indiana can continue to get that kind of production out of Mgbako, who struggled in the first five games, the Hoosiers’ ceiling is significantly raised.

"He's a freshman and he's been working,” Woodson said of Mgbako. “And hopefully this will be a nice carryover to the next game."

They’ll need him when Indiana begins Big Ten play Friday against Maryland at 7 p.m. ET at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. In coach Kevin Willard’s second year, the Terrapins are off to a shaky 3-3 start despite being picked third in the preseason Big Ten poll.

Indiana has worked through growing pains with a new roster through the first six games, but it’s time to put it all together beginning Friday.