Indiana’s first real high-major test ended with a win, but it took a full 40 minutes of trading punches before the Hoosiers finally pulled away from Syracuse, 83-80.
The game kept swinging back and forth all night. Indiana fell behind 18-11 early, answered with an 8-0 run to grab a 19-18 lead, then went into halftime trailing 38-34.
The Hoosiers opened the second half with another 8-0 burst, only to see Syracuse push back and take a 66-61 lead with a little more than six minutes left. Indiana closed with a 22-14 finish to seal it.
The Hoosiers are now 3-0 and head back to Bloomington to host Tennessee Tech on Thursday evening.
Indiana’s best work came after the break, when the offense found another gear. The Hoosiers outscored Syracuse 49-42 in the second half, shot 48.1% from the floor and 54.5% from 3-point range after halftime, and produced 1.44 points per possession in the second half after posting 1.03 before the break.
“Offensively, especially late game execution coming down the stretch last four minutes, I thought the guys did a really good job of executing some things that in a high pressure moments that they did a really good job of sharing the ball, they moved the ball, hit some big shots,” IU coach Darian DeVries said.
The closing stretch was powered by shot-making and second chances. Indiana scored 22 points in the final 5:37, grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, and turned those into 12 points. In a game that tight, that edge mattered.
The free throw line was another separator. Indiana hit seven straight free throws in the final 74 seconds, with Darren Harris making three, Samet Yigitoglu adding two, and Bryce Lindsay knocking down two. For the game, the Hoosiers finished 22-of-26 from the line and were especially sharp in the second half, going 17-of-18.
The defense, though, was a different story. Syracuse had too many clean looks and too much success finishing inside the arc, even if Indiana did a decent job keeping the Orange off the offensive glass and forcing mistakes. Syracuse shot 55.5% from two for the third straight opponent to do that against Indiana, while also staying under 20 3-point attempts for the third straight game.
Overall, Syracuse posted a 58.2% effective field goal percentage and averaged 1.14 points per possession. That left Indiana in a spot where the offense had to carry the night.
“Defensively right now, we got to get better,” DeVries said. “We got to take some steps there and that’s something that it’s got to happen quickly.”
Jaeden Mustaf was the most complete player on the floor for Indiana and earned DeVries’ game MVP nod. He hit 2 of 3 from deep, including a big second-half three, and finished with seven rebounds while bringing physicality on both ends.
Darren Harris gave Indiana a huge lift to start the second half, scoring the first eight points after the break. That burst included a steal and coast-to-coast dunk, and he finished with three assists as he continues to settle into a larger role.
Markus Burton came through late with two critical threes in a three-minute span. He’s now 6 of 9 from deep on the season and also added three steals while helping create transition chances.
Samet Yigitoglu’s work at the line stood out, especially after he’d put extra emphasis on free throw shooting during the offseason. He also rebounded well, added three assists and a steal, and came through with two important free throws in the final minute. Syracuse made him work on his post touches in the first half.
Aiden Sherrell dealt with early foul trouble and never quite found a rhythm. He did knock down a three in each half and added a steal, but he finished with just one rebound in 18 minutes.
Bryce Lindsay didn’t have his best night from 3-point range, though he was more efficient inside the arc and went 4 of 4 from the line in the final five minutes. He also had a couple of second-half turnovers.
Sam Alexis gave Indiana useful minutes on the glass, pulling down five rebounds in 13 minutes, including three offensive boards. His role was smaller than expected with Sherrell limited.
Sisley also chipped in with a nice bounce pass for an assist, though he didn’t play a major role in the game.
In Other News...
Fernando Mendoza Is Suddenly Stepping Into A Huge Raiders Opportunity
Kirk Cousins move from Las Vegas to Minnesota has opened the door for Fernando Mendoza, and the Raiders are now preparing to hand the offense to the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza has only appeared in one game so far, but the former Heisman Trophy winner arrived with plenty of attention and the kind of long-term expectations that make any quarterback change feel bigger than a simple lineup shuffle.
Mendoza also enters the job with a little help from the man he is replacing. He praised Cousins for the way he mentored him, and Cousins had already acknowledged Mendozas potential and the chance that he could take over as the starter. For Las Vegas, the timing makes this a pivotal moment, with a young quarterback suddenly stepping into a role that was never going to stay open for long. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Escapes Syracuse But One Hoosiers Concern Still Lingers
Indiana left Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a hard-fought 83-80 win over Syracuse, and the box score offered plenty of reasons for optimism. Four Hoosiers finished in double figures, Darren Harris and Markus Burton led the way with 20 points apiece, and Indiana did enough on the glass and at the line to survive a game that never really settled into comfort.
Still, the margin for error was thin enough to keep the focus on what comes next. Indianas free-throw shooting was sharp and the offensive rebounding helped create extra chances, but Syracuse also found plenty of clean looks and shot 50.9 percent from the field, a reminder that the Hoosiers were pushed far closer than the final score might suggest. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas Syracuse Win Created An Early KenPom Debate
Indianas win over Syracuse did not just add another result to the ledger, it also kicked off an early conversation about how much weight to put on the numbers behind it. The Hoosiers actually slipped a spot in KenPom from No. 46 to No. 47 overall, even as the offensive profile took a noticeable step forward. Better three-point shooting, cleaner work at the free throw line and extra possessions on the offensive glass all helped push that side of the ball from No. 37 to No. 27.
The defense, meanwhile, took the opposite path in the rankings, falling from No. 55 to No. 70, which is enough to make any early-season snapshot look a little uneasy. Still, the broader read on Indianas defensive effort was not nearly as bleak as the number suggests, with the Hoosiers contesting shots well and showing signs that the unit should improve as the season goes on. For now, it leaves Indiana in the familiar spot of trying to sort out what a single game really says about a team still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]