Payton Sparks offers ‘major lift’ in Indiana basketball’s win over Kennesaw State

Rarely can one dunk be so thunderous that it reverberates through an entire arena. 

That’s what Indiana men’s basketball junior forward Payton Sparks accomplished Friday night in the Hoosiers’ 100-87 win over Kennesaw State University. The 6-foot-9 Ball State University transfer compiled his finest performance since his arrival in Bloomington, notching 10 points, corralling eight rebounds and swatting four shots. 

In the opening segments of the second half, with Indiana ahead 50-46, freshman guard Gabe Cupps pushed the ball ahead to senior guard Trey Galloway, whose contested layup attempt clanked high off the glass. 

Rumbling toward the basket — without a defender in his way — was Sparks. He soared to nab the rebound and ferociously slammed it through the hoop, leaving the rim momentarily quaking after his release and galvanizing a crowd desperate for a jolt. 

“He was great tonight,” sophomore forward Kaleb Banks said postgame. “I’m very proud of him. He had a lot of game-changing plays, a nice put-back dunk — that was crazy for us, some nice blocks. Really gave us some momentum.” 

Once a MAC Freshman of the Year and stalwart presence for the Cardinals, Sparks’ contributions have been sporadic with the Hoosiers. In 10 appearances prior to Friday night, Sparks never reached double-digit scoring figures. 

In only three of those games did Sparks log 10 or more minutes. Given his relatively one-dimensional playing style as a rim protector on the defensive end and pure interior finisher on offense, Sparks wasn’t entirely lauded this offseason after transferring. 

Despite a decorated two seasons at Ball State, his arrival was slightly overshadowed by newcomers such as sophomore center Kel’el Ware, who transferred from the University of Oregon, and freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako, who was rated as the No. 10 overall player in the high school class of 2023. 

But hailing from the small town of Winchester in Randolph County, which rests a little over two and a half hours northeast of Bloomington, Sparks grew up dreaming of donning an Indiana jersey, he said at Indiana basketball media day on Sept. 20 

And in his first start for his boyhood favorite team, Sparks took full advantage of the opportunity. 

“I’m sure it’s special for him,” head coach Mike Woodson said postgame. “And as a coach, I’m anxious to see if he’s ready to play because he hadn’t played big minutes. And he only played 14 minutes tonight, but I thought they were a positive 14 minutes to help us win a basketball game.” 

Woodson didn’t even know Sparks would start until earlier Friday morning. Ware, who’s averaging 14.9 points and 8.9 rebounds this season, missed the contest due to COVID, according to Jeff Goodman of The Messenger. 

Despite the short notice, Sparks came out looking prepared. He was highly active from the outset, with his energy and savviness giving way to rebounds and blocked shots. A little over midway through the first half, Sparks leapt for an emphatic left-handed swat of Kennesaw State senior guard Terrell Burden. 

Just before that block, on the other end of the floor, Sparks wiggled into a favorable position under the basket and secured an offensive rebound off a missed shot from senior forward Anthony Walker. 

Kennesaw State senior forward Rongie Gordon did everything in his power to tame Sparks, but it was useless. Sparks heaved a wild layup attempt that somehow fell through the basket, and he knocked down the subsequent free throw attempt. 

“He was tremendous tonight,” Woodson said. 

While his scoring output took a backseat to that of sophomore forward Malik Reneau’s career-high 34-point masterpiece, Sparks’ performance provided some assurance in Indiana’s frontcourt depth moving forward. 

With Ware sidelined, the Hoosiers managed to get enough from Sparks, Reneau, Walker and Mgbako — who poured in 14 points and shot 4-of-5 from deep — to cruise to a comfortable win. 

Granted, the Owls may not be up to the standard of competition that looms in conference play after the New Year but given the uber-physical nature of the Big Ten, Sparks’ intensity and thumping style could come in handy. 

Perhaps most importantly, in the Hoosiers’ non-conference finale and final game of 2023, Sparks proved that he’d be ready when his number was called. 

“He was ready, and he stepped in and gave us a major lift,” Woodson said. “That’s what team play is all about, and everybody’s just gotta stay ready to play.” 

Follow reporters Will Foley (@foles24) and Matt Press (@MattPress23) and columnist Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.