Rice, Reneau Power Indiana Over Tennessee in Charity Exhibition

Sunday, October 27

Knoxville, Tenn.

3 p.m.

Indiana University

Tennessee (Charity Exhibition)

Indiana

Tennessee

Rice, Reneau Power Indiana Over Tennessee in Charity Exhibition

10/27/2024 6:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Photo Gallery Postgame Notes Photo Gallery

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Basketball as art it was not, especially early, but that was never the point. Competing, passion, and preparation for the upcoming season were when Indiana and Tennessee met Sunday in a charity exhibition.

The result -- a 66-62 comeback IU victory, valuable evaluation, and important insight in what's needed moving forward.

"That team forces you to play an ugly game based on their defense, but we responded," coach Mike Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. "Sometimes, you have to win an ugly game."

Junior forward Malik Reneau was a catalyst with 10 straight late-game points. He finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, and three steals.

Guard Myles Rice, a highly touted transfer guard from Washington State, had 20 points. Arizona transfer center Oumar Ballo had six points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore swingman Mackenzie Mgbako had 12 points, all in the second half.

"Ballo and Malik are going to be the keys for us inside," Woodson told Fischer. "Malik had a big second-half 3-pointer. When he can make threes, when the rest of these guys start making them, we should be in great shape.

"Mackenzie missed some open shots early, ones he normally makes. He's capable of making shots. He played 30 minutes, and we needed all 30."

Rice displayed exceptional quickness and competitiveness in his Hoosier debut. He consistently blew past Tennessee's Zakai Zeigler, considered one of the nation's best defensive guards.

Veteran guard Trey Galloway, still recovering from off-season knee surgery, didn't play. Neither did highly touted freshman guard Bryson Tucker.

"We're a little banged up," Woodson told Fischer. "This was a physical game. It was like a regular-season game. Neither team wanted to bend."

Both teams were ranked in preseason polls -- Tennessee at No. 12, IU at No. 17 by AP, No. 18 by the coaches.

The Hoosiers pressured the Tennessee backcourt and swarmed the rim from the start. The result -- the Volunteers opened 3-for-22 from the field and finished the first half 8-for-33. IU was 0-for-11 on 3-pointers in the first half, 11-for-33 overall.

Both teams improved their shooting and execution improved in the second half. The Hoosiers finished shooting 41.9% overall and were 4-for-19 on 3-pointers. Tennessee shot 30.5% overall and made 8-of-35 3-pointers.

IU had 10 first-half turnovers and finished with 13. Tennessee had nine first-half turnovers and finished with 15. The Hoosiers scored 41 second-half points after getting just 25 in the first half.

"In the second half, we took care of the ball," Woodson told Fischer. "That's why our offensive production was up.

"We didn't shoot well, but our defense hung in there. Offensively, I have to help us get better."

Passion flared early on in a physical, defensive battle. IU got two first-half technical fouls. Tennessee one.

Full-throttle basketball produced sloppy offense, turnovers, and poor shooting for both teams early on. IU pushed ahead 8-2 and then 14-9 after eight minutes behind six points from Rice, and four each from Reneau and Ballo.

Tennessee found its shooting range with an 8-0 run for a 19-16 lead with six minutes left in the first half. A Kanaan Carlyle basket pulled the Hoosiers within 21-20.

Rice scored IU's final four points of the first half, which ended with a 26-25 Volunteers lead.

Rice led the Hoosiers with 10 points. Ballo had six points and eight rebounds. Reneau had seven points and six rebounds. Eight Hoosiers played in the first 30 minutes.

Carlyle hit IU's first 3-pointer for a 28-28 tie early in the second half. The Volunteers found their 3-point shooting form to push ahead 41-37. They built a 52-46 lead before the Hoosiers ratcheted up their defense and offense. Reneau's 10 straight points boosted IU to a 60-54 lead. Two Rice free throws enabled the Hoosiers to close it out.

"It was a tough, competitive game," Woodson told Fischer. "I'm glad our guys came to compete. We can learn a lot from this game. We have to get back to work."