Wednesday, January 8
Bloomington, Ind.
7 p.m.
Indiana University
13-3,4-1Big Ten
82
vs
69
USC
9-6,1-3Big Ten
1
2
F
Southern California
38
31
69
Indiana
38
44
82
Ballo, Hoosiers Power Past USC
1/8/2025 8:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Center Oumar Ballo flexed and dunked, and the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall crowd roared approval.
Forward Luke Goode drilled three-pointers, even while being fouled, and, again, the crowd roared.
Myles Rice and Trey Galloway carved up the USC defense by shot and by pass, and the crowd, yet again, roared.
Welcome to the latest Indiana victory, this one by an 82-69 score Wednesday night.
The Hoosiers' fifth straight victory, and ninth in 10 games, boosted their record to 13-3 overall, 4-1 in the Big Ten. They rallied from an early 10-point deficit for a 38-38 halftime tie before taking charge in the final 20 minutes.
"In the Bahamas, we couldn't guard anybody," Goode said. "Now, our defense and rebounding is carrying us. We've got to continue to defend and rebound. What we've done the last five games has been great."
Added Galloway: "We have to continue to get better and grow as a team."
Coach Mike Woodson said it took time for the rebuilt roster to learn how to play together.
"It's getting defensive stops, rebounding, and getting out and getting quick strikes," he said. "When we defend and get out as a unit and play fast, that's Indiana basketball. We've had glimpse of it. The last three to four games, we're playing better."
The 7-foot Ballo is a big part of that. He extended his dominant play to three straight games with 23 points on 8-for-9 shooting, 5-for-5 from the line, with eight rebounds.
"He's playing better," Woodson said. "We're featuring him. He's a big piece to the puzzle. That's why we brought him here. He has to continue to play well."
USC (9-6, 1-3) had no one to contain Ballo.
"Ballo is a big guy," Woodson said. "Their center was not as big. Early on, Ballo couldn't didn't the ball. As the game wore on, everything loosened up. We were able to utilize him more and he delivered."
Rice had 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Goode had 16 points on 4-for-5 3-point shooting. Galloway had 11 points and six assists.
Galloway said it took a while for he and Rice to learn each other's games because Galloway missed so much off-season time while recovering from knee surgery.
"That connection is getting there," he said. "Missing the summer was tough for me. Since I've been on the court, I'm starting to feed off the other guys. We're learning how we play together. We have to continue to build on that."
The Hoosiers owned the second half when it mattered most, building leads as large as 13 points. They defended USC into a series of empty possessions, while totaling 17 assists against just six turnovers.
"They came out physical," Galloway said. "That shocked us a little bit. Then we started punching back. The way we responded was great. We started to defend and got back and finished."
IU thrived despite swingman Mackenzie Mgbako's offensive struggles -- zero points on 0-for-8 shooting in 15 minutes. Bryson Tucker contributed nine points, four rebounds and an assist off the bench.
"When someone is struggling," Woodson said, "I've got to search as a coach. He'll be back. I have to lean on everybody. It's what you do with minutes you get to set us up to win."
USC opened the game with 3-point and two-point baskets for a 5-0 lead. Ballo muscled in an offensive rebound. The Trojans slashed inside for two more baskets and a 9-2 lead. Rice drove inside for consecutive layups. A Goode 3-pointer got IU within 11-9 after five minutes.
An 8-0 run boosted USC to a 19-9 lead after 12 minutes. Jumpers by Galloway and Tucker got the Hoosiers within 22-16. A Kanaan Carlyle 3-pointer and a pair of Rice free throws tied the score at 24-24 with six minutes left. Two Ballo free throws and then a Ballo layup pushed IU ahead 30-28 with three minutes left before ending the half in a 38-38 tie.
Goode led with 11 points on 3-for-3 3-point shooting. Ballo had 10 points.
Baskets by Galloway and Rice, and then a Galloway 3-pointer and a layup, boosted IU to a 49-41 lead four minutes into the second half. A Ballo dunk off a Galloway assist made it 53-45. Another Ballo dunk pushed the Hoosiers ahead 57-47, then 62-52. Goode hit a 3-pointer for a 65-52 lead with eight minutes left.
The Trojans got it under 10 points a couple of times, but never really threatened.
IU travels to Iowa (11-4, 2-2) Saturday night. The Hawkeyes are coming off a 97-87 overtime home win against Nebraska.
"They're well coached," Woodson said. "They won a big game the other night coming from behind. You have to play there for 40 minutes to beat Iowa."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Center Oumar Ballo flexed and dunked, and the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall crowd roared approval.
Forward Luke Goode drilled three-pointers, even while being fouled, and, again, the crowd roared.
Myles Rice and Trey Galloway carved up the USC defense by shot and by pass, and the crowd, yet again, roared.
Welcome to the latest Indiana victory, this one by an 82-69 score Wednesday night.
The Hoosiers' fifth straight victory, and ninth in 10 games, boosted their record to 13-3 overall, 4-1 in the Big Ten. They rallied from an early 10-point deficit for a 38-38 halftime tie before taking charge in the final 20 minutes.
"In the Bahamas, we couldn't guard anybody," Goode said. "Now, our defense and rebounding is carrying us. We've got to continue to defend and rebound. What we've done the last five games has been great."
Added Galloway: "We have to continue to get better and grow as a team."
Coach Mike Woodson said it took time for the rebuilt roster to learn how to play together.
"It's getting defensive stops, rebounding, and getting out and getting quick strikes," he said. "When we defend and get out as a unit and play fast, that's Indiana basketball. We've had glimpse of it. The last three to four games, we're playing better."
The 7-foot Ballo is a big part of that. He extended his dominant play to three straight games with 23 points on 8-for-9 shooting, 5-for-5 from the line, with eight rebounds.
"He's playing better," Woodson said. "We're featuring him. He's a big piece to the puzzle. That's why we brought him here. He has to continue to play well."
USC (9-6, 1-3) had no one to contain Ballo.
"Ballo is a big guy," Woodson said. "Their center was not as big. Early on, Ballo couldn't didn't the ball. As the game wore on, everything loosened up. We were able to utilize him more and he delivered."
Rice had 19 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Goode had 16 points on 4-for-5 3-point shooting. Galloway had 11 points and six assists.
Galloway said it took a while for he and Rice to learn each other's games because Galloway missed so much off-season time while recovering from knee surgery.
"That connection is getting there," he said. "Missing the summer was tough for me. Since I've been on the court, I'm starting to feed off the other guys. We're learning how we play together. We have to continue to build on that."
The Hoosiers owned the second half when it mattered most, building leads as large as 13 points. They defended USC into a series of empty possessions, while totaling 17 assists against just six turnovers.
"They came out physical," Galloway said. "That shocked us a little bit. Then we started punching back. The way we responded was great. We started to defend and got back and finished."
IU thrived despite swingman Mackenzie Mgbako's offensive struggles -- zero points on 0-for-8 shooting in 15 minutes. Bryson Tucker contributed nine points, four rebounds and an assist off the bench.
"When someone is struggling," Woodson said, "I've got to search as a coach. He'll be back. I have to lean on everybody. It's what you do with minutes you get to set us up to win."
USC opened the game with 3-point and two-point baskets for a 5-0 lead. Ballo muscled in an offensive rebound. The Trojans slashed inside for two more baskets and a 9-2 lead. Rice drove inside for consecutive layups. A Goode 3-pointer got IU within 11-9 after five minutes.
An 8-0 run boosted USC to a 19-9 lead after 12 minutes. Jumpers by Galloway and Tucker got the Hoosiers within 22-16. A Kanaan Carlyle 3-pointer and a pair of Rice free throws tied the score at 24-24 with six minutes left. Two Ballo free throws and then a Ballo layup pushed IU ahead 30-28 with three minutes left before ending the half in a 38-38 tie.
Goode led with 11 points on 3-for-3 3-point shooting. Ballo had 10 points.
Baskets by Galloway and Rice, and then a Galloway 3-pointer and a layup, boosted IU to a 49-41 lead four minutes into the second half. A Ballo dunk off a Galloway assist made it 53-45. Another Ballo dunk pushed the Hoosiers ahead 57-47, then 62-52. Goode hit a 3-pointer for a 65-52 lead with eight minutes left.
The Trojans got it under 10 points a couple of times, but never really threatened.
IU travels to Iowa (11-4, 2-2) Saturday night. The Hawkeyes are coming off a 97-87 overtime home win against Nebraska.
"They're well coached," Woodson said. "They won a big game the other night coming from behind. You have to play there for 40 minutes to beat Iowa."
Team Stats
USC
IND
FG%
.410
.439
3FG%
.231
.286
FT%
.722
.783
RB
33
40
TO
8
6
STL
5
4
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
23
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
19
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
9
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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