Indiana men’s basketball bounced back from its disappointing 1-2 trip to the Bahamas with a 97-71 victory over Sam Houston State University on Tuesday night inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Now, the Hoosiers (6-2) prepare for their final nonconference game before a brief two-game stint in Big Ten play, as head coach Mike Woodson’s squad hosts Miami University (Ohio) at 7 p.m. Friday.
The RedHawks are in their third season under head coach Travis Steele, who has compiled a record of 32-39. Miami is led by junior guard Peter Suder, a transfer from Bellarmine University averaging 17.4 points and four rebounds per game this season. A native of Carmel, Indiana, Suder scored 42 points in the RedHawks’ 73-60 win over Air Force on Dec. 2.
Miami has a pair of sophomores also averaging double digits, as guard Kam Craft and forward Eian Elmer post 14.1 and 14 points per game, respectively.
Despite a trio of capable scorers, the RedHawks’ offense ranks only 217th in Division I in scoring, averaging 74 points per game. They’re better defensively, holding opponents to 71 points per contest, the 188th-best mark in the country.
Historically, Indiana has dominated the series. The Hoosiers hold a 22-3 lead all-time and have won each of the past six meetings.
The two sides’ most recent matchup was Nov. 22, 2022, when All-American forward Trayce Jackson-Davis logged 17 points and 16 rebounds to lead Indiana to an 86-56 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as a part of the Hoosier Classic. It’s their lone matchup in the 21st century. Miami’s last win came Nov. 26, 1983, in Bloomington.
Friday night’s game marks the RedHawks’ second against a Big Ten opponent this season, as they fell 94-67 at Michigan on Nov. 18. They’ve won three straight games since, including a pair of road victories over Siena College and Mercer University.
Indiana, meanwhile, has won two consecutive games — its triumphs over Sam Houston State and Providence College were proceeded by losses of 28 and 16 points to the University of Louisville and Gonzaga University, respectively.
The Hoosiers scored a regular-season-high 97 points against Sam Houston State, with four players reaching double figures. Redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice led the team with 19 points, while senior forward Luke Goode tallied a career-best 18 points headlined by five 3-pointers. Junior forward Malik Reneau added 18 points and 10 rebounds while sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako scored 13 points.
Indiana enters Friday as 18.5-point favorites over Miami, according to ESPN, and has a 91.5% chance of victory. Connor Onion and Shon Morris have the call on the Big Ten Network, while the IU Radio Network — with Don Fischer, Errek Suhr and John Herrick — will also carry the game.
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.
