Indiana Tops Marian in Pat Knight’s Return to Bloomington

Friday, November 1

Bloomington, Ind.

7 p.m.

Indiana University

0-0,0-0Big Ten

106

Marian (Exhibition)

0-0

Marian (IN)

Indiana

106

Indiana Tops Marian in Pat Knight’s Return to Bloomington

11/1/2024 10:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, IND. -- Trey Galloway was back and starting. Did the senior guard light up the scoreboard Friday night during Indiana's 106-64 exhibition victory over Marian University at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall? No.

Did it matter? No.

Coming off knee surgery that sidelined him for much of the offseason, plus last Sunday's exhibition win at Tennessee, Galloway played 11 minutes and totaled three points, four rebounds and two assists in anticipation of full-throttle action when the season begins Wednesday night against SIU-Edwardsville.

Galloway ran, cut, facilitated and directed with purpose and without limitation. Coach Mike Woodson said he monitored Galloway's playing time.

"It will be that way until he gets comfortable playing big minutes," Woodson said.

Galloway's second-half three-pointer suggested a return to sharp-shooting perimeter form his teammates need to emulate. The Hoosiers finished 6-for-23 overall from the perimeter, but did make 5 of 12 in the second half.

"We didn't shoot it well from three," Woodson said. "That's disturbing. We had good looks. We'll keep shooting them. We have to keep working at it, get guys comfortable and see where it leads us."

Forward Malik Reneau followed up his 21-point, eight-rebound effort against Tennessee with 18 and eight in 19 minutes on Friday night, plus five assists. Center Oumar Ballo had 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 20 minutes.

Guards Jakai Newton and Bryson Tucker also played after missing the Tennessee exhibition. Newton scored his first college basket after an injury cost him all of last season with an acrobatic first-half layup. He totaled two points, four rebounds and three assists.

"That's the first time Jakai has played since he's been here," Woodson said. "It brought a smile to my face. He's been working and working to get back. He finally got a chance and played positive minutes. You can tell he's rusty. He's a talented young man. We have to continue to nurse him and get him back 100 percent."

Added Newton: "It was great to be out there. It's been so long. Just realizing that practice shape and game shape are two different things. I've got to get adjusted to that, but I feel good from being in practice. It will translate as the season goes on."

Newton said that he's 100 percent, but that the coaches are limiting him to keep him healthy.

Tucker, a heralded true freshman, hit nine of 12 shots and finished with a team-leading 19 points.

"He's a young freshman," Woodson said. "He has a nice skill set. He's long and athletic. He can do a lot of things. He has to learn the college game. We have to keep pushing him in the right direction."

IU attacked the smaller Knights with pace, physicality, and lots of dunks. In the first half alone it had a 38-4 edge in points in the paint, 13-0 on fastbreaks. It finished with 33 assists against 10 turnovers, shot 69 percent from the field and had a 48-28 rebounding advantage.

Ten Hoosiers played at least 11 minutes and scored at least two points, and that was with guard Kanaan Carlyle out with bruised ribs suffered against Tennessee. That reflected, if everyone stays healthy and productive, formidable depth few teams could match.

"This is the deepest team we've had since I've been here," Woodson said, "but we have a lot of work in terms of what I'm looking for."

The exhibition featured the return of Pat Knight, the former IU player and son of Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight. Pat Knight is in his first season coaching Marian. His mother, Nancy, also was at the game along with Marian athletic director Steve Downing, a former Hoosier All-American.

Knight's appearance included plenty of pre-game hugs with Hoosier coaches and staff, his mid-court floor kiss, and a back-of-the-Marian jerseys quote from one of this father's most famous sayings:

"The mental is to the physical as 4 is to 1."

"It was nice having Pat back here," Woodson said. "It's been a while. He is special to this program because of his dad, and he's gone through it. To get him and his mom back, that was special."

IU opened the game with a Reneau layup and a Mackenzie Mgbako three-pointer in less than a minute. A Ballo dunk and another Reneau layup meant a 9-2 Hoosier lead and a Knight timeout to settle his team down.

It didn't help.

The Hoosiers hit seven of their first eight shots and pushed ahead 17-5 and 29-8. Marian responded with an 8-0 run before IU, with Woodson subbing players and mixing combinations, reached halftime with a 50-25 lead. Reneau led with 12 points and six rebounds.

The second half was more of the same. Ballo opened with a layup and a dunk. Galloway hit his three-pointer. Reneau couldn't miss. Rice tossed an alley oop pass for a Tucker dunk

The Hoosiers had 80 points midway through the second half as Woodson emptied his bench. Fifteen Hoosiers played at least three minutes.

"What I liked most about tonight was that we defended," Woodson said. "We had 33 assists and 10 turnovers, so that's a positive."