Mgbako Scores Career High, Indiana Beats SIUE 80-61

Wednesday, November 6

Bloomington, Ind.

8 p.m.

Indiana University

1-0,0-0Big Ten

SIUE

1-1,0-0OVC

SIUE

Indiana

Mgbako Scores Career High, Indiana Beats SIUE 80-61

11/6/2024 9:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Mackenzie Mgbako was everywhere SIU-Edwardsville didn't want him Wednesday night.

Indiana's sophomore swingman was on the perimeter hitting 3-pointers, in the paint dunking and making layups, and soaring through the lane for rebounds and tip-ins at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall when he wasn't harassing on defense.

By the time Mgbako was done, he had scored a career-high 31 points on 13-of-17 shooting that included 4-for-5 on 3-pointers, grabbed nine rebounds, blocked a shot and recorded a steal, all in a ruthlessly efficient 28 minutes as the No. 17/18 Hoosiers opened their season with an 80-61 victory.

"I was playing within the offense and being aggressive," Mgbako said. "Taking what they gave me. I was going with moving the ball, finding great shots and taking them."

Mgbako was unstoppable from the opening tip, scoring 13 of IU's first 19 points in just seven minutes. He added a six-point burst, including a 3-pointer, late in the first half after SIU-Edwardsville had rallied from an 11-point deficit to a 27-27 tie.

He had 19 first-half points, and added 12 in the second.

"That was great to see," guard Trey Galloway said. "He puts in the work in practice, and is very efficient in his work. He's played well."

It was a big follow up from last season, when Mgbako won Big Ten freshman-of-the-year honors.

"He's still learning," coach Mike Woodson said. "Tonight was one of the best games he's had since been here. He was solid defensively."

Forward Malik Reneau finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Center Oumar Ballo, in his Hoosier debut after transferring from Arizona, had 15 points and six rebounds.

Guard Myles Rice, in his first IU game after transferring from Washington State, had 11 points, four assists and two steals. He also had five turnovers, which Woodson noticed.

"On three of his turnovers, there wasn't anything there," Woodson said. "Those are correctable. He has to be patient to get us into something. It's still a work in motion to get him to play the right way and be a true point guard.

"Great point guards figure out how to make other players better and still figure out how to score. He can score. He's shown that in practice. I want him to play the right way and run the offense."

Galloway came off the bench as he continues his recovery from off-season surgery. He had six points, was 2-for-2 from the field, 1-for-1 from the line and had nine assists against two turnovers in 17 minutes.

"We can't help but bring him off the bench because can't play big-time minutes yet," Woodson said. "He missed so much summer play. We're gradually trying to bring him along and not get him hurt. We'll see how he feels tomorrow. That will be the key."

IU shot 52.6% from the field, but committed 16 turnovers and didn't show the offensive efficiency, especially in transition, that Woodson wants.

"Offensively, we came out with great intentions," he said. "The ball moved early, but then we got stale in terms of moving and making the extra pass. Edwardsville was able to hang round.

"We've been having some good practices., but the ball wasn't moving and our bodies weren't moving. I've got to get us better that area."

Woodson tried different combinations throughout the game. Ten Hoosiers played, and eight played at least 15 minutes. As far as what IU's offensive identity is, Woodson said, "I don't know. I'm still searching. I know our shots will start falling eventually."

SIU-Edwardsville turned 16 offensive rebounds into 13 second-chance points.

"They wanted it a little more than we did," Woodson said. "That can't happen. We'll break the film down, put them in front of the film and try to get better."

SIU-Edwardsville's roster included 6-10 junior forward Kyle Thomas, the son of former IU standout Daryl Thomas, a member of the 1987 national title team.

IU went inside early with Reneau, Ballo and Mgbako boosting the Hoosiers to a quick 6-0 lead. Mgbako added two- and 3-point baskets, plus a dunk, to make it a 15-5 score after six minutes. Mgbako scored two more baskets for a 19-9 Hoosier lead before Woodson replaced him with freshman Bryson Tucker.

SIU-Edwardsville closed within four points, then three, then tied it at 27-27 on a 3-pointer with 4:47 left in the half, forcing Woodson to call a timeout.

A Mgbako 3-pointer, then a steal, layup and free throw restored Cream 'n Crimson order while sparking a 11-0 run. Combined with ferocious defense, the Hoosiers reached halftime with a 42-30 lead.

Mgbako led with 19 points and five rebounds. Reneau had 11 and four.

SIU-Edwardsville was within nine points six minutes into the second half before IU delivered the knockout behind a combined 14 points from Galloway and Mgbako, plus a crowd-energizing dunk from Ballo for a 67-48 Hoosier lead the Cougars couldn't overcome, especially with Galloway and Ballo connecting on a couple of pick-and-roll baskets.

"We were stagnant early on, and we needed to move the pace," Galloway said. "We started creating some movement and were able to find some things.

"(Oumar) got behind the defense. Our pace was good at the end of the game. We have to have it all 40 minutes."