Mackenzie Holmes, No. 4 Indiana surge past No. 5 Oklahoma

Indiana Hoosiers forward Mackenzie Holmes (54) scores the ball during the NCAA tournament second round game against the Oklahoma Sooners at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Monday, March 25, 2024.

Credit: Bobby Goddin/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

Mackenzie Holmes poured in 29 points to help No. 4 Indiana beat No. 5 Oklahoma 75-68 on Monday evening in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Bloomington, Ind.

The Hoosiers (26-5) are in the Sweet 16 for the third time in program history and will face undefeated No. 1 South Carolina (34-0) on Friday in Albany, N.Y.

Also key for Indiana was the play of Sydney Parrish, who had 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Sara Scalia added 12 points.

Skylar Vann scored 20 points for Oklahoma (23-10) while Aubrey Joens scored 16 off the bench.

The Sooners took a four-point lead with 2:41 to play after a Joens three-point play. The Hoosiers then broke off a 12-2 run to take a comfortable six-point advantage with 21 seconds left. Holmes scored six consecutive points to kickstart the late game-sealing run.

In a defensive battle played mostly inside the arc, neither team shot well from 3-point land with the two sides going a combined 7-for-41. Indiana did make 22 free throws, while Oklahoma attempted just 13. The Hoosiers also scored nine points off 11 Oklahoma turnovers.

Oklahoma hasn’t been to a Sweet 16 since 2013.

–Field Level Media

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