IU, Purdue in action on second day of men’s Big Ten Tournament

INDIANAPOLIS – Both Purdue and Indiana play on the second day of the men’s Big Ten Basketball Tournament in downtown Indianapolis.

The tourney tipped off Wednesday with three games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Here’s a look at Wednesday’s scores:

• 13 Northwestern 72, 12 Minnesota 64
• 15 Iowa 77, 10 Ohio State 70
• 14 USC 97, 11 Rutgers 89 (2OT)

Thursday’s action starts with ninth-seeded IU (19-12, 10-10 Big Ten) taking on eighth-seeded Oregon (23-8, 12-8 Big Ten, No. 23 AP). The game tips off at noon on BTN.

The Hoosiers’ NCAA tournament prospects looked dim after a stretch in which they lost five straight games. They rebounded with wins over ranked opponents Michigan State and Purdue and have won four of their last five.

Their only blemish during the late-season stretch was a 73-64 road loss to Oregon, a game in which the Hoosiers took a late lead only to watch the Ducks rattle off a 10-0 run to end it.

Some wins at Gainbridge Fieldhouse would certainly boost IU’s March Madness profile.

Thirteenth-seeded Northwestern (17-15, 7-13 Big Ten) takes on fifth-seeded Wisconsin (23-8, 13-7 Big Ten, No. 18 AP) in the second game of the day. Game three features fifteenth-seeded Iowa (17-15, 7-13 Big Ten) against seventh-seeded Illinois (20-11, 12-8 Big Ten, No. 24 AP).

Thursday’s action wraps up with sixth-seeded Purdue (21-10, 13-7 Big Ten, No. 20 AP) against fourteenth-seeded USC (16-16, 7-13 Big Ten). Tip is scheduled for 9 p.m.

The Boilermakers have been ranked in the top 25 throughout the year and cracked the top ten early on. Purdue was mired in a four-game losing streak toward the end of the season, dropping games to then-No. 20 Michigan, No. 16 Wisconsin, No. 14 Michigan State and unranked Indiana.

After making the NCAA title game last season, the Boilermakers are virtually assured an NCAA tourney berth but can improve their seeding with a run in the conference tournament.