No. 14 Indiana men’s basketball entered its final matchup of the 2024 Battle 4 Atlantis looking to find a rhythm. After blowout losses to the University of Louisville and No. 3 Gonzaga University, the Hoosiers finished their trip to the Bahamas with a symphony of offensive production in an 89-73 win over Providence College on Friday afternoon.
“I thought we were connected tonight,” head coach Mike Woodson said postgame. “Everything looks good when you're making shots. I thought the ball moved and didn’t get stuck.”
Woodson’s team shot a season best 53.3% from the 3-point line against the Friars, and that was largely a product of an unselfish half-court offense willing to make the extra pass. Indiana recorded 20 total assists for the second time this season, with four different players tallying three or more dimes.
Despite an inefficient 1-for-8 shooting performance, redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice led the Hoosiers offense with six assists and pushed the floor in transition with his speed. The Washington State University transfer was a key contributor to the Cream and Crimson’s 16 fastbreak points.
Indiana shot a combined 11 for 38 from beyond the arc in its previous two losses, which included a plethora of uncontested shots. Without the threat of a perimeter attack, the Hoosiers were unable to stretch the floor and allowed opponents to dedicate extra help defense to the paint.
That wasn’t the case in the win over Providence.
Sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako and fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway accounted for seven of Indiana’s eight made 3-pointers. With both players on the court for over 30 minutes, the Friars were forced to leave junior forward Malik Reneau isolated in the post. Reneau finished with 21 points in as many minutes on 8-for-9 shooting.
“It went hand in hand,” Woodson said. “When you’re making shots from the perimeter it makes it a lot easier for our post-up guys.”
Reneau’s post dominance alongside Mgbako’s game-high 25 points headlined the Hoosiers offensive attack, but valuable minutes from an assortment of bench pieces played a key part in the win as well. In particular, the play of transfers senior forward Luke Goode and senior center Langdon Hatton provided an extra spark.
Goode strung together an under-the-radar 9 points and seemingly ended up on the floor every other play diving for loose balls. Meanwhile, Hatton filled in because of Reneau’s early foul trouble and the Bellarmine University transfer’s entry to the game was immediately tailed by a 9-1 Indiana run. Quality bench production was absent against Louisville and Gonzaga but was apparent in the victory over Providence.
The pair of offseason additions are among seven different Hoosiers playing their first season under Woodson. With growing pains apparent, Indiana’s fourth-year coach is still working to get his roster where he believes it should be.
“I’m just trying to get players to understand team,” Woodson said. “When you’re talking about playing good offense you share the ball. You sacrifice the pass for the sake of the team.”
Coming just one point shy of their season high, the Hoosiers did just that in the win over the Friars.
Indiana (5-2) now travels back to Bloomington where it will host Sam Houston University Dec. 3 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa) and columnist Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer (@mateo_frohwer) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
