First Half Surge Pushes Gonzaga Past Indiana

Thursday, November 28

Paradise Islands, Bahamas

2:30 PM

Indiana University

4-2,0-0Big Ten

Gonzaga

6-1,0-0WCC

Gonzaga

Indiana

11/28/2024 5:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- Oumar Ballo played big -- 25 points on 11-for-13 shooting.

It wasn't enough Thursday afternoon for the No. 14 Indiana Hoosiers (4-2). Not against No. 3 Gonzaga, which cruised to an 89-73 victory in the Battle 4 Atlantis.

The Hoosiers will play Friday morning in the tourney finale against the loser between Providence and Davidson in the seventh-place game.

"We have to regroup and get ready for this early game," coach Mike Woodson said. "We want to get a win before we get back home."

IU outscored Gonzaga 34-32 in the second half, a big improvement from Wednesday's second-half performance against Louisville.

"Our guys didn't quit," Woodson said. "They competed in the second half. Hopefully, we can build on that."

IU has given up 89 in each of its first two games, a big problem for a program that prides itself on defense. It allowed 46 points in the paint against the Bulldogs (6-1).

"We weren't connected defensively," Woodson said. "In the second half, we played better. Defensively, I thought we were on point heading out here, but in the last two games, our perimeter play has gotten exposed. I have to fix that. We can't have miscues on our defensive coverage.

"It's believing in one another and believing in our rotations. We were awful in protecting the paint. Our guys have lost confidence in that area."

Gonzaga paid early for not double-teaming Ballo. He had 17 points in the first 12 minutes on 7-for-7 shooting.

"He played great," Woodson said. "We went to him quite a bit after Malik (Reneau) got in early foul trouble."

Then the Hoosiers stopped going to Ballo, and the Bulldogs capitalized, rocking IU late in the first half with a 16-0 run and transition offense IU couldn't slow.

"We have to get to the point where we can compete against the top-notch teams," Woodson said. "We'll get there. We have to keep working at it."

Guard play was again a problem, although it was better than it was against Louisville. Myles Rice fouled out with six points. Kanaan Carlyle and Trey Galloway combined for 10 points, eight assists and two turnovers.

"Myles has struggled," Woodson said. "I have to help him get his confidence back and get comfortable in guarding the ball. These (Louisville and Gonzaga) guards have had their way. We have to get better guard, to make a good run in the Big Ten. Our guard play has to pick up."

Gonzaga jumped ahead 8-0 as IU opened 0-for-3 from the field with two turnovers. The Bulldogs built a 10-point lead before the Hoosiers rallied, first behind Ballo, then Mackenzie Mgbako, Carlyle and Luke Goode

They pushed ahead 18-16 through effort and energy they had lacked the previous day against Louisville. One problem – Rice and Reneau picked up two early fouls and saw limited minutes the rest of the half.

Gonzaga countered to go ahead 21-18 and then 25-19. Langdon Hatton came in for Ballo and helped keep the Hoosiers within range (four points in four minutes) before Ballo returned to get IU within one point at 30-29.

The Bulldogs surged to a 49-31 lead with 3:25 left in the half. During their 16-0 run, IU was 0-for-8 with three turnovers before Ballo's layup ended the five-minute scoring drought, but not Hoosier woes. They fell behind 54-33 before ending the half down 57-39. Ballo led with 19 points on 8-for-9 shooting. Gonzaga had a 17-3 edge in second-chance points fueled by its 26-13 rebounding advantage.

Rice got the Hoosiers going in the second half with a steal and a layup. Gonzaga came back with seven straight points for a 64-41 lead three minutes into the second half.

IU's attack-the-basket approach drew Bulldogs fouls and scoring opportunities. It closed within 65-49 and then 70-55 with 10 minutes left before the rally faded. The Hoosiers have one more chance at a tournament victory.

"Gonzaga is a good program," said Ballo, who began his college career with the Zags before transferring to Arizona, and then IU. "There's a reason why they've been good for so long.

"Indiana is a good program. I wish we'd had a different result, but it's a long season. We have to get better."

Added Woodson: "My focus is on our team. We have seven new players and we're still trying to work things out. I'll keep pushing to get this team where we should be."