Indiana University Athletics
Friday, December 6
Bloomington, Ind.
7 p.m.
Indiana University
vs
Miami (Ohio)
Leal Continues to Make Big Off-The-Bench Impact
12/6/2024 3:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Anthony Leal perseveres. You know that, right? What Indiana's senior guard lacks in consistent good health and significant playing time, he makes up for in hustle, smart play, resilience, and efficiency. He's a basketball Hoosier and loves every minute of it, playing or watching.
His teammates have noticed.
"I think Anthony is one of the best teammates I've ever played with," forward Luke Goode said. "He is put in tough positions all the time. Being in the lineup, out of the lineup, being called on last year and making big plays."
Consider Leal's role during Monday's 97-71 win over Sam Houston State. In a season-high 25 minutes off the bench, he had four points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. He was a team-best plus-39.
Before that, Leal had only played in five total minutes all season. That came against Louisville and Gonzaga during last week's Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. He didn't play at all in the tournament-ending win over Providence.
"He played 25 minutes (against Sam Houston) after not playing a single minute (against Providence), and he was still a great teammate," Goode said. "When you have that and you have that winning mentality, it really helps everybody else realize it's bigger than themselves."
Leal might get another opportunity Friday night when the Hoosiers (6-2) host Miami of Ohio (5-2) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
"When you have a guy like that that you can depend on who is so selfless to take a step back and not get minutes and still be a great teammate, and then to come in like he did (against Sam Houston), it's special," Goode said.
Necessity contributed to Leal's increased playing time. Injuries have sidelined guards Kanaan Carlyle and Gabe Cupps.
"We're shorthanded," coach Mike Woodson said, "so, we went deep into the bench. Anthony has always been there when we needed him. He stepped up and played a solid game."
Leal, a former Indiana Mr. Basketball out of Bloomington High School South, does the little things that matter, and that includes the classroom, where he's a three-time academic All-Big Ten selection.
Difference-making play comes despite limited minutes. It always has. Last year, Leal made game-winning baskets against Ohio State and Penn State. That got the attention of Goode, who was playing for Illinois at the time.
"I remember sitting in the living room and watching him come in for that stretch and literally winning the game," Goode said.
Last season, Leal set career highs in games played (21), scoring (2.4 points), rebounding (2.1), assists (1.1), minutes (14.7), shooting (44.4%) and 3-point shooting (47.4%).
Whether or not Leal plays, Goode added, he continues to set a difference-making example IU needs as it prepares for next week's Big Ten-opening games against Minnesota at home and Nebraska on the road.
"That's the selflessness we need to keep portraying to the rest of the team and the rest of the guys," Goode said.
IU's solid bounce-back performance against Sam Houston State -- setting a season high with 97 points -- after the 1-2 Battle 4 Atlantis struggles included strong free throw shooting. The Hoosiers were 22-for-29 for the game (75.9%), including 17-for-19 in the second half (89.5%).
For the season, they are at 77.7%. Four Hoosiers shoot better than 90 percent -- Rice (15-for-16, 93.8%), Mackenzie Mgbako (23-for-25, 92.0%), Goode (11-for-12, 91.7%), and Malik Reneau (27-for-30, 90.0%).
"If you think back over the last few years," Woodson said, "free throws have really been a problem for us. We've given three, four, five games away over the last few years each season because of missed free throws.
"That was one of the things going out into the portal this summer to try to find guys that you feel good about, when they step to the line, they make their free throws."
Miami (Ohio) is led by Peter Suder, who is coming off a career-high 42 points in Monday's win over Air Force. He made 17-of-21 shots in the RedHawks' best individual offensive performance since Wally Szczerbiak scored 43 in 1999. The 6-5 Suder averages a team-leading 17.4 points. He shoots 58.8% from the field.
Miami has two other double-figure scorers in Cam Craft (14.1 points) and Eian Elmer (14.0 points, 5.6 rebounds). The RedHawks have won three straight since a 94-67 loss at Michigan. They also have lost 81-68 to Wright State.
IU leads the series with Miami 22-3 with six straight victories.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Anthony Leal perseveres. You know that, right? What Indiana's senior guard lacks in consistent good health and significant playing time, he makes up for in hustle, smart play, resilience, and efficiency. He's a basketball Hoosier and loves every minute of it, playing or watching.
His teammates have noticed.
"I think Anthony is one of the best teammates I've ever played with," forward Luke Goode said. "He is put in tough positions all the time. Being in the lineup, out of the lineup, being called on last year and making big plays."
Consider Leal's role during Monday's 97-71 win over Sam Houston State. In a season-high 25 minutes off the bench, he had four points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. He was a team-best plus-39.
Before that, Leal had only played in five total minutes all season. That came against Louisville and Gonzaga during last week's Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas. He didn't play at all in the tournament-ending win over Providence.
"He played 25 minutes (against Sam Houston) after not playing a single minute (against Providence), and he was still a great teammate," Goode said. "When you have that and you have that winning mentality, it really helps everybody else realize it's bigger than themselves."
Leal might get another opportunity Friday night when the Hoosiers (6-2) host Miami of Ohio (5-2) at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
"When you have a guy like that that you can depend on who is so selfless to take a step back and not get minutes and still be a great teammate, and then to come in like he did (against Sam Houston), it's special," Goode said.
Necessity contributed to Leal's increased playing time. Injuries have sidelined guards Kanaan Carlyle and Gabe Cupps.
"We're shorthanded," coach Mike Woodson said, "so, we went deep into the bench. Anthony has always been there when we needed him. He stepped up and played a solid game."
Leal, a former Indiana Mr. Basketball out of Bloomington High School South, does the little things that matter, and that includes the classroom, where he's a three-time academic All-Big Ten selection.
Difference-making play comes despite limited minutes. It always has. Last year, Leal made game-winning baskets against Ohio State and Penn State. That got the attention of Goode, who was playing for Illinois at the time.
"I remember sitting in the living room and watching him come in for that stretch and literally winning the game," Goode said.
Last season, Leal set career highs in games played (21), scoring (2.4 points), rebounding (2.1), assists (1.1), minutes (14.7), shooting (44.4%) and 3-point shooting (47.4%).
Whether or not Leal plays, Goode added, he continues to set a difference-making example IU needs as it prepares for next week's Big Ten-opening games against Minnesota at home and Nebraska on the road.
"That's the selflessness we need to keep portraying to the rest of the team and the rest of the guys," Goode said.
IU's solid bounce-back performance against Sam Houston State -- setting a season high with 97 points -- after the 1-2 Battle 4 Atlantis struggles included strong free throw shooting. The Hoosiers were 22-for-29 for the game (75.9%), including 17-for-19 in the second half (89.5%).
For the season, they are at 77.7%. Four Hoosiers shoot better than 90 percent -- Rice (15-for-16, 93.8%), Mackenzie Mgbako (23-for-25, 92.0%), Goode (11-for-12, 91.7%), and Malik Reneau (27-for-30, 90.0%).
"If you think back over the last few years," Woodson said, "free throws have really been a problem for us. We've given three, four, five games away over the last few years each season because of missed free throws.
"That was one of the things going out into the portal this summer to try to find guys that you feel good about, when they step to the line, they make their free throws."
Miami (Ohio) is led by Peter Suder, who is coming off a career-high 42 points in Monday's win over Air Force. He made 17-of-21 shots in the RedHawks' best individual offensive performance since Wally Szczerbiak scored 43 in 1999. The 6-5 Suder averages a team-leading 17.4 points. He shoots 58.8% from the field.
Miami has two other double-figure scorers in Cam Craft (14.1 points) and Eian Elmer (14.0 points, 5.6 rebounds). The RedHawks have won three straight since a 94-67 loss at Michigan. They also have lost 81-68 to Wright State.
IU leads the series with Miami 22-3 with six straight victories.
Players Mentioned
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