Indiana Basketball DOMINATES Penn State 113-72: 3 Takeaways

After an 87-78 “neutral site” loss to Louisville, Indiana basketball returned home for the season’s Big Ten Conference opener against 8-1 Penn State.

The Hoosiers didn’t just come back to Bloomington, but they did so in style, controlling every second of the game. This was a much-needed victory after facing back-to-back losses. 

Takeaway #1: Wilkerson’s record-breaking performance

Lamar Wilkerson was unstoppable against the Nittany Lions. Breaking two records on the night, the Sam Houston transfer had the crowd going wild. He shot 10-for-15 from beyond the arc, breaking the Indiana single-game 3-point record (Previous record: (9) held by Roderick Wilmont (2007), Matt Roth (’09), and Robert Johnson (’18)). Along with this, he broke the Simon Akjodt Assembly Hall single-game point record previously held by Golden State Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis in 2021 by recording 44 points on the night. 

His accuracy was almost unbelievable, some might say. He sank shot after shot, riling up the crowd as he went. After the game, Wilkerson told the press how much he needed this game after coming off a couple of wild performances.

“Coach told me that today was going to be the day I got hot, cause I’ve been having a rough couple of games… the hoop looked as big as the ocean today, so I was just throwing it up there, and it just happened to go in. All glory to God,” Wilkerson said. 

Lamar Wilkerson set an @IndianaMBB record tonight for the most 3s made in a single game 🤯

The senior buried 🔟 triples on the way to a historic 44-point night 🔥 pic.twitter.com/OZP9mnd6HJ

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) December 10, 2025

Head coach Darian DeVries also acknowledged Wilkerson’s effort and accuracy,

“He’s had a couple of nights where he struggled… I was never worried about that. He’s that level of a shooter now. He’s not going to do 44 every night, but he has that confidence. He puts in the work every day, and it was fun to see him get kind of loose and showcase all the work he puts in.” Said DeVries. 

Takeaway #2: Smart, steady, and successful offense

After starting the game against Louisville 16-0, Indiana basketball made sure to capitalize on its previous mistakes. The offense was an apparent team effort as five players reached double digits. Following Wilkerson’s outstanding 44-point performance was Reed Bailey with 18 points. There was a slight switch-up in the lineup as Sam Alexis started in place of Bailey, his first start of the season. 

“It wasn’t really anything more than we just wanted to try to create a spark.  Wasn’t anything negative towards either one of them. I thought Reed responded great, you know, like we knew he would. I thought it freed him up a bit coming off the bench… maybe just a change to process as the game’s going.” DeVries reflected. 

Also in double-digits on the night were Tayton Connerway with 17 points, Nick Dorn with 13 points, and Tucker DeVries with 12. 

One noticeable aspect was the team’s overall poise. They weren’t rushing shots, and when they didn’t have a look, they often made the short pass under the basket. 

Takeaway#3: The perimeter defense returns 

It was challenging to watch Indiana basketball’s defense against Louisville this weekend. They seemed frantic, running right past Cardinals who were teeing up yet another 3-pointer. Louisville sank 13 shots from downtown against the Hoosiers over the weekend (41%). There was no perimeter defense, which ultimately is one of the reasons they couldn’t come out on top. 

Back at home, however, it is clear that they kept this a focal point. Only allowing 5 3-pointers total, Indiana kept the Nittany Lions to just 31% from the arc. Additionally, they ran the shot clock down for Penn State multiple times, forcing turnovers or poor shot attempts. 

Even with the perimeter protection, foul trouble remains a concern for the Hoosiers. By the end of the game, they had six players with three fouls. This number needs to go down, as this won’t fare well against teams down the line. 

Up Next: Indiana basketball at Kentucky, Sat, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m.