With a 7-point lead late in the first half against the University of South Carolina on Saturday afternoon, Indiana men’s basketball’s redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice launched a ball from half court towards the basket.
It wasn’t a shot.
Rice’s dime of a pass floated to the elevated hands of sophomore guard Kanaan Carlyle who flushed it home emphatically, completing an alley-oop that sent the Hoosier faithful into a frenzy.
Together, Rice and Carlyle combined for 35 points on 12-for-19 shooting, leading the way in an 87-71 win over the Gamecocks inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington.
“I think we all feed off each other really well,” Rice said postgame. “That's a credit to not only us but our teammates we have. They understand how to play with us, and we understand how to play with them.”
The pair of former Pac-12 guards came to Bloomington through the transfer portal, looking to become fixtures of a revamped Indiana roster. Through three games, Rice — the Hoosier’s primary ball handler — and Carlyle have cemented themselves as head coach Mike Woodson’s starting guards.
“That was the whole emphasis this summer once we entered the portal,” Woodson said postgame. “Trying to get perimeter guys that can come in here and play.”
On top of their offensive success, the newcomers have been staples in an Indiana defense that’s forcing 13 turnovers per game. Carlyle consistently picked up his defensive assignment from half-court, forcing errant passes and contributing to South Carolina’s 8 for 29 shooting from beyond the arc.
Rice displayed similar prowess guarding on the perimeter, holding Gamecocks senior guard Jacobi Wright to a season-low 6 points on 2-for-11 shooting.
Last season, Rice and Carlyle shared the court three times with one another — not as teammates, but as opponents. Rice’s Washington State University got the best of Carlyle’s Stanford University on every occasion including an 89-75 win on Jan. 18 where both players eclipsed 30 points.
“He did his thing, I did my thing,” Rice said. “I’m happy we're on the same team now.”
While it might not show up on the final box score, they made winning plays through immeasurables all afternoon. Whether Rice was draining off precious seconds by letting the ball roll late in the second half, or Carlyle was fueling the crowd by displaying his displeasure with South Carolina’s physicality, they stepped up.
One moment that encapsulates Rice’s leadership occurred after a hard foul late in the second half that sent fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway barreling to the floor. Within seconds, the former Pac-12 Freshman of the Year was in the face of the foul’s culprit to protect his teammate. Play in and play out, Rice and Carlyle were the driving force behind a physical Indiana win.
Even fate appeared to be working for Carlyle, who was the benefactor of an unconventional basket. It might’ve shown up as a typical 3-point make on the stat sheet, however, Carlyle’s “shot” was a misplaced entry pass. Regardless, the nearly half-court make added to an efficient Indiana performance from beyond the arc.
“Tonight was a step forward in making threes,” Woodson said. “What did we shoot, 47% from the three? Anybody in college basketball would take that.”
The Hoosiers’ 8 for 17 showing from deep is their best performance with a minimum of 10 3-pointers attempted since Dec. 21, 2023, when they shot 12 for 24 against the University of North Alabama. Rice and Carlyle were responsible for five of the eight made threes against the Gamecocks.
Indiana’s backcourt duo will look to continue their quality play as the season continues to ramp up. The Hoosiers will host the University of North Carolina Greensboro on Nov. 21 before traveling to the Bahamas for the 2024 Battle 4 Atlantis on Nov. 27.
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.
