BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 20 points and had 18 rebounds while reaching yet another major milestone in leading No. 18 Indiana past No. 24 Rutgers 66-60 on Tuesday night.
The fourth-year forward became the sixth player in school history with 2,000 career points and the first among them who also had 1,000 rebounds.
Jackson-Davis now has 2,004 points, 1,035 rebounds and a school-record 242 blocks. He’s hit all three milestones during a stretch in which Indiana has won seven of eight. He also had six assists against Rutgers.
Miller Kopp added 18 points for the Hoosiers (17-7, 8-5 Big Ten), who moved into a tie for second place in the conference.
Clifford Omoruyi had 15 points to lead the Scarlet Knights (16-8, 8-5), who had won six straight over the Hoosiers. Cam Spencer finished with 14.
Indiana showed no sign of a letdown from Saturday’s victory over No. 1 Purdue.
The Hoosiers started fast and then scored 12 straight points to take a 30-14 lead midway through the first half. Jackson-Davis and Kopp made sure Rutgers spent the rest of the game playing catch up.
But even as the Scarlet Knights played without injured starting forward Mawot Mag and their rugged defense struggled, they managed to charge back. Rutgers allowed just one basket over the final 3:51 of the first half, closing it on an 11-2 run.
Rutgers tied it at 38 when Spencer opened the second half with a 3-pointer. Kopp broke the tie with his third 3 of the game, the first basket in a 9-0 run that gave Indiana with a 49-40 lead with 14:45 to play. Jackson-Davis’ big basket, a putback dunk off his own miss, made it 54-44 with 11:13 remaining.
The Scarlet Knights had a shot at tying it with 3:02 to go, but Caleb McConnell’s 3 bounced off the back of the rim and the Hoosiers closed it out by with a 7-2 spurt.
Jackson-Davis also recorded the 44th double-double of his career, breaking a tie with Steve Downing for fourth on the school’s career list.
BIG PICTURE
Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights nearly overcame the absence of Mag, who missed his first game with a torn ACL in his right knee. But Rutgers struggled against Indiana’s size and speed and could face similar challenges over their final eight regular-season games.
Indiana: Coach Mike Woodson’s team is playing, at times, like the Big Ten’s preseason pick to win the league title. When the Hoosiers make perimeter shots and play well defensively, they’re a difficult matchup for anyone in the Big Ten.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
The victory should help solidify Indiana’s top-20 status — at least until it hits the road for their next two games. Losing Mag and Tuesday’s game may make Rutgers’ return to the rankings short-lived regardless of what happens later this week.
UP NEXT
Rutgers: Visits Illinois on Saturday
Indiana: Heads to Michigan on Saturday.
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