Early in the second half of Indiana men’s basketball’s matchup with Purdue on Sunday, junior forward Malik Reneau rose up for a two-handed dunk to tie the game at 39. He may not have known yet, but he’d just made history.
Reneau’s slam was the 1000th point scored in his Indiana career, making him just the 55th player to reach the milestone — and the first since Trayce Jackson-Davis in 2022.
“Malik’s been a solid player for us,” Indiana head coach Mike Woodson said postgame. “He reached the 1,000-point plateau today and that’s pretty special in college basketball.”
Beyond its record book status, the basket also served as a key moment in the latest edition of the Hoosier state rivalry. After trailing by 12 points at halftime, Reneau’s dunk capped off a 14-2 Indiana run to start the second half that erased the Boilermakers’ advantage in short order.
The Hoosiers never slowed down.
Just over two minutes later, Reneau snagged a lofty pass from fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway, composed himself and rose through contact for an and-one finish that gave Indiana a 48-40 lead. After watching his shot fall — in sync with the referee’s shrill whistle — Reneau turned to the Hoosier faithful gathered inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and flexed.
He finished with 15 points, six rebounds — both team-highs — and four assists, an effort that proved crucial to Indiana’s 73-58 win over Purdue.
“We knew coming in that this was a must-win game,” Reneau said. “When we got down and we were at halftime, it was the same thing. Just go out there and put your all out on the floor and let's see the results, and it came out our way.”
Woodson had faith in the Miami native entering Sunday’s game. Despite coming off the bench in his last two appearances, Reneau took the floor as a starter against Boilermakers.
The decision paid off.
Although Indiana struggled offensively throughout the first half — emphasized by a 1 for 11 showing from beyond the arc — Reneau was one of the team’s lone bright spots. He scored 8 points on 4-for-4 shooting and tallied five rebounds.
In the second half, Reneau was similarly efficient, scoring 7 points on 3-for-3 shooting during the Hoosiers’ comeback.
One important aspect of Reneau’s play was the trust Woodson had in him on the floor. Redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice was the only underclassmen to receive more than 10 minutes of playing time, a statistic that highlights a game plan predicated on veteran leadership and composure.
“This is my fourth year here,” Woodson said. “Gallo and Malik, who have been around me the longest, and they know, truly, what I'm about.”
Reneau has played under Woodson for his entire Indiana career, and while that won’t be the case next season, his growth as a player under the direction of the departing coach was on display Sunday.
At times during his Cream and Crimson tenure, Reneau struggled with turnovers against double teams. As a result, Purdue opted to use extra help against him in the post early and often.
But Reneau wasn’t fazed. He consistently recognized the defensive look, found an open teammate and made the necessary pass. Reneau finished with four assists, tied for his second-most this season.
“He was great,” Galloway said. “He knows he demands a double because of how good and how skilled he is. Nobody can guard him one-on-one. Just having that mindset of the willingness to pass shows the kind of teammate he is, and it's pretty special to see that.”
In addition to his offensive production, Reneau was essential to Indiana’s second-half defense that held Purdue to only 21 points. He was tasked with guarding junior forward Trey Kaufmann-Renn, who scored 23 points in the Boilermakers’ win over the Hoosiers on Jan. 31.
After the intermission, Kaufmann-Renn scored 1 point on 0-for-4 shooting and fouled out with five minutes left in the game.
Reneau’s all-around performance gave Indiana a much-needed resume boost as the NCAA Tournament approaches. After entering Sunday’s matchup in the Next Four Out in ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s latest projection, the Hoosiers’ Quad 1 win over their in-state rival greatly benefits their aspirations of earning an at-large bid.
While there’s still work to be done for those hopes to become reality, a 15-point win over the No. 13 team in the country is certainly a step in the right direction. As Indiana continues to claw its way back into bracket projections, similar outings from the program’s latest member of the 1000-point club will likely be needed.
Following the win, Reneau was asked how it felt to be the 55th player to reach the mark. After jokingly making a “55” with his outstretched fingers, he gave his answer.
“Thank the Lord,” Reneau said. “It's just a big moment for me. That's all I can say pretty much, it's a special moment for me.”
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa) and columnist Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer (@mateo_frohwer) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
