Men's basketball beats Mississippi Valley State, 71-54

Mired in its worst shooting effort of the young season, the IU men’s basketball team turned to less conventional ways of scoring Tuesday.

The Hoosiers shot just 38 percent from the field, including just 33 percent in the first half, but used opportunistic defense and unselfish passing to pull away from Mississippi Valley State in a 71-54 victory at Assembly Hall.

IU (3-0) collected a season-high 10 steals, scoring 32 points off turnovers and had 16 assists on 23 total field goals to put the visiting Delta Devils (0-2) away in the final game of a daunting stretch of three games in five days.

Sophomore forward Christian Watford led all scorers with 18 points and was one rebound shy of back-to-back double-doubles. Freshman guard-forward Will Sheehey was the team’s most efficient shooter, finishing 4-of-7 from the field with nine points.

The IU bench distanced itself from MVSU, outscoring the opposing alternates 32-9. For the first time this season, the Hoosiers won the turnover battle, forcing the Delta Devils into 23 while committing 17 of their own.

IU gets its most extended rest of the season, as it wil stay home to face Evansville at 1 p.m. Sunday in Assembly Hall.

Stay tuned for a complete wrap.

-Ryan Winn