Indiana didn’t exactly burst out of the gate Monday night, but once the Hoosiers found their defensive rhythm, Eastern Illinois had no answer.
IU opened its season with a 91-57 win, and the turning point came late in the first half. The Hoosiers were up just 24-21 with 9:45 left before halftime after a stretch in which their defensive pressure slipped following an early 14-5 start. That let the Panthers settle in and hang around longer than Indiana wanted.
Then the game flipped. Indiana tightened up defensively over the final eight minutes of the half and ripped off a 20-2 run to head into the locker room with a 44-23 cushion.
The Hoosiers scored 1.16 points per possession in the opening 20 minutes, with Markus Burton doing plenty of the heavy lifting. He had eight points and five assists before halftime.
The second half brought more uneven defense from Indiana at times, but Eastern Illinois never got close enough to threaten. A 7-0 run pushed the Hoosiers to a 74-47 lead by the under-eight media timeout, and they later stretched the margin to 35 points at 86-51 before emptying the bench to finish off the opener.
Burton ended up as the headliner with 19 points and five assists, and he did it efficiently, going 7-for-8 from the floor and 3-for-3 from deep. Bryce Lindsay added 14 points, Trevor Manhertz chipped in 11, and Samet Yigitoglu posted eight points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.
Indiana also made life miserable for Eastern Illinois in the hustle categories, winning points off turnovers 29-8, second-chance points 15-3 and fast-break points 20-6.
The Hoosiers now get two days off before hosting Bellarmine on Thursday at 6 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBC Sports Network.
In Other News...
Indianas Quarterback Decision Suddenly Feels Bigger Than One Minnesota Win
Curt Cignetti spent part of his radio show this week trying to put Indianas quarterback situation in clearer focus, and the conversation only underscored how much the position now shapes the Hoosiers outlook. Starter Josh Hoover is still recovering from the injury he sustained against Ohio State and is resting for now, while Grant Wilson stepped in after halftime against Minnesota and helped steady the offense in a game Indiana eventually won in overtime.
Wilsons path to this moment has been a winding one, including a return to Bloomington after another player transferred, but Cignetti said he has confidence in the backups ability to handle the job. With Hoover unavailable and Wilson having just delivered in a pressure spot, the Hoosiers suddenly have a quarterback question that reaches beyond one comeback win and into the next stretch of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Urban Meyer Just Added Fuel To Indianas Playoff Debate
Urban Meyers latest turn in the College Football Playoff conversation only sharpened the pressure around Indianas place in the race. The former Ohio State coach, now working as a FOX commentator, said the Buckeyes are on life support in the rankings and need to keep winning, while also pointing out that Indiana has climbed high despite a schedule that has drawn scrutiny. He also flagged Notre Dames thin margin for error, adding another layer to a crowded national picture.
For Indiana, the bigger takeaway is not just where the Hoosiers sit, but how little room there is for any of the contenders to slip. Ohio States recent losses and difficult stretch ahead have made the Big Ten path even more crowded, and every ranking update seems to invite a fresh debate about who has earned its spot and who still has work to do. In a playoff race this tight, Indiana is no longer just trying to stay in the conversation - it is part of the argument. [Read more 🡒]
Curt Cignetti Just Gave Hoosiers Fans Another Reason To Rally
Curt Cignetti used his weekly radio show in Bloomington with Don Fischer to do more than break down Indiana football. He also took aim at the College Football Playoff rankings, arguing that the media gives too much benefit of the doubt to SEC teams. For Hoosiers fans, it was another reminder that their coach is willing to say out loud what plenty of people around the Big Ten have been muttering for years.
The comments quickly spread well beyond the local airwaves, giving Indiana another burst of attention at a time when the program is trying to keep building momentum. Cignetti has made a habit of defending the Big Ten, and this latest round only adds to the sense that he is comfortable leaning into conference pride while putting Indiana in the middle of a larger national conversation. [Read more 🡒]