Three reasons Indiana Basketball defeats Penn State on Saturday.

Indiana basketball hosts the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday afternoon at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Both Indiana and Penn State come into this game with wins. The Hoosiers defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes, while the Nittany Lions defeated a struggling Ohio State squad.

The Hoosiers look to string some wins together after losing five of its last seven. Here are three keys for an Indiana Basketball win on Saturday afternoon.

Do the Hoosiers have an injury problem?

Kel'el Ware returned to the starting lineup against Iowa and played one of his best games -- if not his best- of the season. Ware scored 23 points and grabbed ten rebounds with three blocks. However, the game came with a cost. Both Xavier Johnson and Malik Reneau left the game with injuries.

After the game and as of the writing of this preview, their status for Saturday afternoon's game is uncertain. If Reneau and Johnson can't play, the Hoosiers need someone to step up and fill those roles. Indiana got 13 points and seven rebounds from Anthony Leal. Indiana also needs more than 4-17 from forward Mackenzie Mgbako.

More Indiana Basketball

Indiana has to play like the better team.

The Hoosiers are the better team with the better roster. Penn State is dealing with injury concerns of its own. Leading scorer Kanye Clary was out against Rutgers and might be out against the Hoosiers. Even if Clary plays, the Nittany Lions are not a great offensive team. Indiana has the size and athletic advantage.

Also, who's the go-to for the Nittany Lions without Clary? This is the type of game where the Hoosiers must get off to a fast start and keep its foot on the gas. Much like the Iowa game -- and every home game this season -- they need the feed off the Assembly Hall crow.

It might be cliche but...

Indiana needs to do those little things. You know, those things that they've been inconsistent in doing. They need to dominate the boards, which they should do. Indiana shot 63 percent from the free-throw line against Iowa. They did commit 11 turnovers, which isn't great but not the worst they've done this year.

Indiana needs to button it up against a team they should defeat by double figures. Sloppy inconsistent play can keep bad teams in games, something they don't want to do Saturday afternoon.