Trace Jackson-Davis did it all with 24 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks and five assists as Indiana advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016 with a 71-60 win over 13th-ranked Kent State on Friday night.
The No. 4-seeded Hoosiers (23-11) travel to Kansas City in the Midwest Region semifinals to play at No. 5-seeded Miami Sunday.
Jackson-Davis became the first player to record at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, five blocks and five assists in an NCAA Tournament game since blocks became an official NCAA stat in 1985-86, according to OptaSTATS.
The final 32 games of the first round were played mostly in front of Indiana fans, and their team won without drama to cap off a very good day. Earlier, the Hoosiers’ in-state rival Purdue became the 2nd No. 1 seed in tournament history, losing by 16 when Fairleigh Dickinson stunned in Columbus, Ohio.
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Reece Thompson #25 and Trace Jackson-Davis #23 of the Indiana Hoosiers react during the first half against the Kent State Golden Flash during the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on March 17, 2023 in Albany, New York. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Mid-American Conference champions Kent State shot 32% from the field and couldn’t muster that kind of magic. True Carrie scored 15 points to lead the Golden Flashes (28-7), who have won six straight in the tournament.
Shortly after midnight, Jackson-Davis fired up MVP Arena with six perfect points in the second half. The run started with a drive up the lane and a one-handed dunk. What followed was a layup drive and then a turnover to make it 62-50 with 7:39 left.
Rayce Thompson scored 20 points for the Hoosiers on 8-of-11 shooting, matching a season high.
The Hoosiers led 35-27 at halftime when Thompson used a hard-working Kent State defense to limit Jackson-Davis. Thompson scored 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Mike Woodson speaks with his team during the first half against the Kent State Golden Flash in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at MVP Arena on March 17, 2023 in Albany, New York. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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Meanwhile, Jackson-Davis made his presence felt with 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks, including a Jalen Sullinger layup in the final seconds of the half.
THE BIG PICTURE
Kent State: Last NCAA win came in 2002 when the Golden Flashes stunned the Elite Eight before being eliminated by Indiana.
Indiana: The Hoosiers got a quiet night from star freshman Jalen Hood Schifino, who scored eight points while battling foul trouble.
Miller Kopp #12 of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts after a second half basket against the Kent State Golden Flash in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at MVP Arena on March 17, 2023 in Albany, New York. ((Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images))
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Indiana: The Hoosiers have played the Hurricanes once, a 58-53 loss at Miami in December 2001.