Indiana blasts Minnesota to open Big Ten play

Field Level Media|published: Mon 9th December, 21:06 2024

Dec 9, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers center Oumar Ballo (11) is fouled by Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Femi Odukale (11) during the first half at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Oumar Ballo had 18 points and was one of five Indiana scorers in double figures as the Hoosiers opened their Big Ten schedule with an 82-67 win over Minnesota on Monday night in Bloomington, Ind.

Ballo went a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and made 8 of 11 free throws. Freshman Bryson Tucker came off the bench for a career-high 16 points, while Malik Reneau also had 16. Kanaan Carlyle chipped in 14, and Mackenzie Mgbako contributed 13.

The Hoosiers (8-2, 1-0 Big Ten) flexed their superiority inside all night, canning 63 percent of their field-goal attempts in the first half and finishing the game at 56.6 percent. They also controlled the boards 35-22 and earned a 32-14 advantage in bench scoring.

Dawson Garcia scored a game-high 22 points for the Golden Gophers (6-5, 0-2), while Lu'Cye Patterson and Mike Mitchell Jr. each added 10. It was the fourth loss in five games for Minnesota, which cooled down significantly after a hot start and never got its deficit down to single digits in the second half.

The Gophers converted 47.3 percent of their field-goal attempts but were just 2-for-11 on 3-pointers. They also allowed 18 fastbreak points.

Both teams got off to a sizzling start offensively. Minnesota sank 11 of its first 15 shots in the first eight-plus minutes of the contest, and Indiana wasn't far behind at 8-for-10. The Gophers owned a 22-20 lead at the under-12 media timeout of the first half.

But Minnesota's offense wouldn't be that efficient again for the night's remainder, as the Hoosiers clamped down. The visitors managed just nine points over the rest of the half, enduring a scoreless stretch of five minutes at one point as Indiana took charge.

Ballo's three-point play at the 4:41 mark of the first half capped a 16-1 run and made it 36-23 for the Hoosiers. Tucker finished off the period with a layup that enabled Indiana to head to halftime with a comfortable 44-31 advantage.

The Hoosiers never saw the lead dip below 12 following intermission.

--Field Level Media

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