After their 90-55 win against EIU, No. 16 Indiana basketball looks to continue their win streak against South Carolina.
The first half had Indiana basketball fans on the edge of their seats as it ended with a slim one-point deficit at 37-36. However, the Hoosiers strongly closed out their last two games, resulting in their second win of the season. Head coach Mike Woodson was content with their second-half performance,
“I couldn’t ask for a better half,” Woodson said.
Indiana and South Carolina last faced off in November 1998, a 76-55 Indiana win. IU currently holds a 2-1 record against the Gamecocks. The Hoosiers host on Saturday, looking to maintain their winning ways.
Game Information:
Teams: No. 16 Indiana (2-0) and South Carolina (2-1)
Tip Time: 3:00 PM EST
Watch: Peacock
Listen: IU Radio Network (Bloomington: 105.1 WHCC-FM; Indianapolis: 107.5 WFNI-FM
What to know about South Carolina:
The Gamecocks have a 2-1 record, with their last game being a 80-54 win over Towson.
Sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles totaled 27 points and was just one rebound short of a double-double. From the floor, he shot 9 of 12.
Also putting points on the board was senior guard Jacobi Wright with 16. This was coming off of the previous game where he broke his career high of 20 points. He has put up double digits in all three games to start the season. Taking a step back, throughout the past two seasons, the Gamecocks are 10-1 when Wright has scored in double digits. Graduate student forward Nick Pringle contributed 15 points along with nine rebounds.
South Carolina only trailed Towson in the first minute and by just one point. By the end of the game, their 26-point margin of victory was their largest lead on the day. They held onto this lead aided by their 50% field percentage going 26 of 52 compared to Towson’s 30%. The Gamecocks recorded 63 FG% in the first half which gave them the upper hand early.
Also contributing to this momentum were the 39 rebounds (10 offensive) which led to several scoring drives.
South Carolina has yet to compete against a ranked opponent this season.
Latest on Indiana basketball:
Indiana goes into the matchup with a 90-55 victory over Eastern Illinois. Their 37-36 deficit was combated by their 9-0 run early in the second half. The majority of their points came from drives to the basket.
“I’m happy that they responded,” Woodson says regarding his halftime talk with the team. “It was enough to get a fire lit and get us going in the second half.”
Their physicality contributed to the win as well. Sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako led the team with 18 points, his second consecutive time leading the team. Along with this, he recorded seven rebounds and four assists.
Redshirt senior center Oumar Ballo and junior forward Malik Reneau each scored 17 points to secure the win. Ballo added 9 rebounds and Reneau brought down 6.
Senior guard Trey Galloway is an important asset to the team and brought the energy up when he stepped on the court. He totaled 8 assists in just 18 minutes of play. Reneau recognizes Galloway’s position on the team:
“He just opens up the floor for everybody,” he said. “…The way he controls the ball and can get it to the right guy at the right moment.”
From the bench, 12 points were scored and 6 rebounds captured by freshman forward Bryson Tucker. As the first player off the bench, Woodson had confidence in Tucker. So far, he has been a standout with midrange shots. He also significantly brought energy to the crowd during his alley-oop.
Redshirt freshman guard Jakai Newton took the court for the first time this season since his knee surgery in August 2023. Coming from Covington, Georgia, this is Newton’s first active season with IU. He was in the game for 8 minutes contributing 2 points and 2 rebounds.
Indiana stepped it up significantly in the second half, a similar reflection of their prior game. Woodson recognizes the defensive performance of the team,
“…the intensity was just lacking the first half,” says Woodson.
The Hoosiers will be tested by South Carolina on Saturday. Indiana needs to connect and continue to work out their kinks as the season continues to progress