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Tuesday, Jan. 21
The Indiana Daily Student

sports men's basketball

Indiana men’s basketball blown out by Illinois after worst halftime deficit in 25 years

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There were many boos, few cheers and another blowout defeat for Indiana men’s basketball (13-5, 4-3 Big Ten), which fell 94-69 to Illinois (13-4, 5-2 Big Ten) on Tuesday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. 

The Hoosiers have now lost back-to-back games by 25 points in the aftermath of their 85-60 loss at Iowa on Jan. 11, and each of their five losses this season have come by at least 16 points. 

Indiana trailed by 30 points in the first half and the Fighting Illini carried a 60-32 advantage into halftime. The Hoosiers’ 28-point deficit was their largest at halftime in the last 25 seasons, according to ESPN Stats and Information. Illinois shot 48.8% from the field and went 8 of 19 from distance while outrebounding Indiana 29-18 at the break. 

Many fans flooded the lobby and hit the exits at halftime. 

The Hoosiers, if only briefly, sparked energy from fans in the second half, trimming their deficit to 18 points. But Illinois, spearheaded by a 10-0 run across two minutes midway through the second half, regained its 30-point lead. 

Sixth-year senior center Oumar Ballo led the way for Indiana, scoring 16 points while adding 15 rebounds. Senior forward Luke Goode scored 13 points, redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice tallied 12 points and fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway totaled 10 points. 

Ballo was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul with 2:24 remaining for shoving Illinois sophomore center Tomislav Ivišić in a scuffle, and neither Indiana nor Illinois partook in a postgame handshake as three other players were assessed technical fouls. 

The Hoosiers shot only 38.5% from the field and 22.2% from distance. Illinois finished with a 51-37 rebounding margin, made 11 triples and shot 40% from the field. 

Indiana returns to action at 8 p.m. Friday against Ohio State inside the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. 

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. 

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