Friday, December 1
Bloomington, Ind.
7:00 PM
Indiana University
6-1,1-0Big Ten
65
vs
53
Maryland
4-4,0-1Big Ten
1
2
F
Maryland
28
25
53
Indiana
40
25
65
Indiana Tops Maryland in Big Ten Opener
12/1/2023 9:07:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Mike Woodson pushes the next-man-up approach. His Indiana Hoosiers buy into it.
Do they ever.
On Friday night, in the Big Ten opener against Maryland (4-4), senior guard Trey Galloway was a difference-making force, flirting with a triple double as IU (6-1) rolled to a 65-53 victory at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
That came as the Hoosiers were without senior point guard Xavier Johnson, who suffered a foot/ankle injury in last Sunday's win over Harvard.
Freshman Gabe Cupps started in his place. CJ Gunn and Anthony Leal also got their shots.
But it was Galloway who set the run-the-team tone. He had 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting along with six rebounds and six assists.
"He knows we're short-handed," Woodson said. "He doesn't have his running mate with X out. He has to do more, give us more. He's a senior. He's supposed to do that. I was pleased with him from beginning to end."
With Cupps and fellow freshman Mackenzie Mgbako starting, leadership and direction also were Galloway priorities, and not just in the game.
"We have to pull those guys along," Galloway said, "and it starts with me. I have to do a great job. When I come to practice, I have to help lead."
With Johnson out, Maryland attacked with the press. IU handled it with fast starts in the first and second half.
"That was good to get it going early," center Kel'el Ware said. "We showed Maryland we came to play. Then, complete the mission and win."
Ware continued his strong early season play with 18 points and 14 rebounds despite a physical Terrapin defense that sent as many as three players at him when he got the ball in the paint.
"He's been smacked around this season," Woodson said. "It's part of the game. You have to get in the fight. He did a great job of holding his own and demanding the ball."
Added Ware: "Now I know I can do that. Even if they keep sending people, find the open man."
Forward Malik Reneau added 11 points and five rebounds. Mgbako had his second straight solid game with 13 points and seven rebounds.
The Hoosiers' 40-26 edge in points in the paint, combined with solid defense that held Maryland to 36 percent shooting (2-for-16 on three-pointers), were too much for the Terrapins to overcome.
"Early on, we had our way in the paint," Woodson said.
Getting an early jump in Big Ten play is a positive, Galloway said. IU plays at Michigan on Tuesday before returning to non-conference action. Conference play resumes in January.
"It's good to get a feel for what the Big Ten is like," Galloway said. "You have to be ready to compete every night. You get a little taste of that."
One area of concern was the offense over the final seven minutes.
"Bodies weren't moving," Woodson said. "We were stagnant. I have to do a better job of getting them to execute the offense.
"It's a learning tool for me. I've got to be better in helping them."
Beyond basketball, new head football coach Curt Cignetti took center court during a first-half timeout to a big roar, that got bigger when he said, "I don't plan on taking a back seat to anybody. Purdue sucks, but so do Michigan and Ohio State. Go IU."
"I want to give a big shout out to Curt," Woodson said. "Welcome to Bloomington. He couldn't have picked a better place to come."
Even without Johnson and with Reneau limited to just eight first-half minutes by foul trouble, the Hoosiers took a 40-28 halftime lead.
Why?
Because Ware and Mgbako combined for 23 points.
IU opened with energy, tenacity and physicality to bolt ahead 8-2 and 13-4. Ware led with five points, including a three-pointer. Reneau followed with his own three-pointer for a 16-4 lead.
A Ware three-point play, followed by five straight Mgbako points, pushed Indiana ahead 39-24 before ending with a 40-28 halftime lead.
Ware led with 12 points Mgbako had 11.
Maryland needed a fast second-half start to have a rally chance.
IU refused to led it happen. It pounded the paint, forced turnovers and basically had the game won with 12 minutes to play.
Still, Maryland cut a 23-point deficit to 12 with five minutes to play before the Hoosiers ended the threat with a Ware basket and a pair of Reneau free throws.
Now it's on to Michigan and more physical play.
"It's the Big Ten," Woodson said. "It's going to be this way every night. It won't be any easier when we go to Michigan.
"The Big Ten is tough. They let you play. If you don't meet the challenge, you'll be exposed. Tonight we were more aggressive."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Mike Woodson pushes the next-man-up approach. His Indiana Hoosiers buy into it.
Do they ever.
On Friday night, in the Big Ten opener against Maryland (4-4), senior guard Trey Galloway was a difference-making force, flirting with a triple double as IU (6-1) rolled to a 65-53 victory at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
That came as the Hoosiers were without senior point guard Xavier Johnson, who suffered a foot/ankle injury in last Sunday's win over Harvard.
Freshman Gabe Cupps started in his place. CJ Gunn and Anthony Leal also got their shots.
But it was Galloway who set the run-the-team tone. He had 12 points on 6-for-10 shooting along with six rebounds and six assists.
"He knows we're short-handed," Woodson said. "He doesn't have his running mate with X out. He has to do more, give us more. He's a senior. He's supposed to do that. I was pleased with him from beginning to end."
With Cupps and fellow freshman Mackenzie Mgbako starting, leadership and direction also were Galloway priorities, and not just in the game.
"We have to pull those guys along," Galloway said, "and it starts with me. I have to do a great job. When I come to practice, I have to help lead."
With Johnson out, Maryland attacked with the press. IU handled it with fast starts in the first and second half.
"That was good to get it going early," center Kel'el Ware said. "We showed Maryland we came to play. Then, complete the mission and win."
Ware continued his strong early season play with 18 points and 14 rebounds despite a physical Terrapin defense that sent as many as three players at him when he got the ball in the paint.
"He's been smacked around this season," Woodson said. "It's part of the game. You have to get in the fight. He did a great job of holding his own and demanding the ball."
Added Ware: "Now I know I can do that. Even if they keep sending people, find the open man."
Forward Malik Reneau added 11 points and five rebounds. Mgbako had his second straight solid game with 13 points and seven rebounds.
The Hoosiers' 40-26 edge in points in the paint, combined with solid defense that held Maryland to 36 percent shooting (2-for-16 on three-pointers), were too much for the Terrapins to overcome.
"Early on, we had our way in the paint," Woodson said.
Getting an early jump in Big Ten play is a positive, Galloway said. IU plays at Michigan on Tuesday before returning to non-conference action. Conference play resumes in January.
"It's good to get a feel for what the Big Ten is like," Galloway said. "You have to be ready to compete every night. You get a little taste of that."
One area of concern was the offense over the final seven minutes.
"Bodies weren't moving," Woodson said. "We were stagnant. I have to do a better job of getting them to execute the offense.
"It's a learning tool for me. I've got to be better in helping them."
Beyond basketball, new head football coach Curt Cignetti took center court during a first-half timeout to a big roar, that got bigger when he said, "I don't plan on taking a back seat to anybody. Purdue sucks, but so do Michigan and Ohio State. Go IU."
"I want to give a big shout out to Curt," Woodson said. "Welcome to Bloomington. He couldn't have picked a better place to come."
Even without Johnson and with Reneau limited to just eight first-half minutes by foul trouble, the Hoosiers took a 40-28 halftime lead.
Why?
Because Ware and Mgbako combined for 23 points.
IU opened with energy, tenacity and physicality to bolt ahead 8-2 and 13-4. Ware led with five points, including a three-pointer. Reneau followed with his own three-pointer for a 16-4 lead.
A Ware three-point play, followed by five straight Mgbako points, pushed Indiana ahead 39-24 before ending with a 40-28 halftime lead.
Ware led with 12 points Mgbako had 11.
Maryland needed a fast second-half start to have a rally chance.
IU refused to led it happen. It pounded the paint, forced turnovers and basically had the game won with 12 minutes to play.
Still, Maryland cut a 23-point deficit to 12 with five minutes to play before the Hoosiers ended the threat with a Ware basket and a pair of Reneau free throws.
Now it's on to Michigan and more physical play.
"It's the Big Ten," Woodson said. "It's going to be this way every night. It won't be any easier when we go to Michigan.
"The Big Ten is tough. They let you play. If you don't meet the challenge, you'll be exposed. Tonight we were more aggressive."
Team Stats
MD
IND
FG%
.357
.456
3FG%
.125
.333
FT%
.647
.556
RB
30
46
TO
12
16
STL
9
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
12
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Guard
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Guard
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Guard
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