Indiana men’s basketball passed its final non-conference test before Big Ten competition Friday night, defeating Miami University 76-57 inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall to improve to 7-2 on the season.
A disconnected Hoosier defense gave up 11 made 3-pointers which allowed the RedHawks to remain close well into the second half. Still, despite a season low 4 points from sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako, an otherwise balanced offensive attack was enough for the Hoosiers to escape the contest unscathed.
Junior forward Malik Reneau led Indiana in scoring with 19 points and sixth-year senior center Oumar Ballo posted his first double-double of the season with a 14-point 18-rebound performance.
The Hoosiers struck first with a 14-3 scoring run over the first 5:32 of play, but their advantage wouldn’t extend much further in the first half, due to the perimeter shooting of the RedHawks. Miami shot 7-for 16 from beyond the arc in the first half to cut Indiana’s lead to a mere 3 points at the break 39-36.
The early minutes of the second half offered a similar story to the end of the first, as the Hoosiers advantage remained in single digits. It wasn’t until fifth year senior guard Trey Galloway sunk a 3-pointer from the corner with 7:29 remaining in the game that Indiana’s lead surpassed 10 points.
Galloway’s swish was part of a 12-0 run that allowed the Hoosiers to decisively pull away from the RedHawks, as they coasted to a 19-point win.
Aside from Mgbako, every Indiana starter finished with 13 or more points.
Indiana (7-2) will open Big Ten Conference play at 6:30 p.m. Monday night, when it welcomes Minnesota into Assembly Hall. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
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.
