Indiana’s first marquee win of the 2026-27 season came with plenty of grime attached.
The Hoosiers moved to 3-0 by edging Syracuse 2-1 in Indianapolis, a game that stayed tight from start to finish and never got especially clean. Indiana did just enough in the clutch, landing a few timely shots and stringing together the stops it needed to walk away with the win.
Markus Burton was right in the middle of it. He scored 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting and went 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, while also adding four assists and three steals.
Burton kept pressuring the lane, forcing Syracuse to react, and he helped jumpstart Indiana’s offense throughout the night. He did have three turnovers, which kept the outing from being spotless, but the overall balance was exactly what Indiana wanted from him.
Jaeden Mustaf turned in the kind of all-around performance that can swing a game. He finished with 18 points, attacked the rim, and hit two threes, but his work on the glass and on defense stood out even more.
Mustaf held Syracuse wing Gavin Doty to five points on 2-for-7 shooting and later switched onto freshman point guard Ryan Moesch when Moesch got going late in the second half. He also grabbed seven rebounds, including three on the offensive end.
Darren Harris didn’t have it from deep, going 2-for-8 on threes, but he still found ways to matter. He was perfect at the line, hitting all 10 of his free throws, and added three rebounds and three assists. Harris also made his presence felt defensively, jumping a passing lane for a dunk and staying attached on the ball all night.
Samet Yigitoglu drew a lot of fouls, which helped Indiana, but the offense bogged down when the Hoosiers tried to feed him in the post. He finished with 10 rebounds and three assists, and two of his three made field goals came on wide-open dunks.
The other was a strong post move. Still, the ball security and finishing around the rim need to be cleaner.
Aiden Sherell gave Indiana two made threes, but that was about the extent of his impact. He took only two shots all night, both from deep, even when matchups opened up after ball screens.
He didn’t do much to attack the interior, and one rebound in 18 minutes was a major issue. Sherell also finished with a team-worst minus-seven.
Freshman Trent Manhertz didn’t have the box score night to match his energy. He missed all five of his shots and picked up four fouls in 13 minutes, but he kept the ball moving, took reasonable looks, and played with the kind of motor that never lets up. When he stayed out of foul trouble, he defended well too.
Bryce Lindsay’s confidence remains part of what makes him dangerous, but this was not one of his better nights. He shot 3-for-11 overall and missed all five of his three-point attempts, while finishing at minus-five.
His catch-and-shoot range still gives him room to fire, but the out-of-control drives to the rim were a problem. He doesn’t give Indiana much on the glass or defensively, so when the shot selection slips, the margin gets thin fast.
Sam Alexis was quiet offensively, going scoreless on 0-for-2 shooting, including an ill-advised spin fade late when Indiana was searching for any kind of offense. Even so, he did what the Hoosiers need from him in other areas: five rebounds, three of them offensive, plus solid rim protection.
In Other News...
Indiana Just Landed A Guard Hoosier Fans Will Want To Watch
Indiana added another notable name to its future backcourt with the signing of four-star guard Chase Branham from the class of 2027, a move that gives Hoosier fans an early reason to keep an eye on La Lumiere School. At 6-foot-4, Branham brings size for the position, and his arrival only adds to the sense that Indiana is trying to build its next wave with players who can fit the programs long-term plans.
Branham also arrives with some historical context attached, since he is now the 10th-highest ranked recruit Indiana has landed in the 247Sports era. In the schools official release, coach Darian DeVries highlighted both Branhams ability and his character, which is usually the kind of combination a staff hopes will translate well once the real work begins and the recruiting buzz gives way to what he can actually do in Bloomington. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Just Sent Indiana A Message Before Bloomington Showdown
Lincoln Riley had plenty of praise for Indiana as USC turns its attention toward a trip to Bloomington, and the message was clear enough: this is not a matchup the Trojans can treat casually. Asked about the Hoosiers, Riley pointed to an experienced defense and the kind of coaching continuity that can make a team harder to prepare for, while also showing respect for Curt Cignettis program.
For Indiana, the compliments matter because they come with a reminder of what usually decides games at this level: which team can bring the same standard from one week to the next. Riley said consistency is the challenge, and that is exactly the sort of test the Hoosiers want in a high-profile home game, where a strong defensive identity and steady coaching should give them a chance to make USC earn everything. [Read more 🡒]
Tobi Osunsanmi May Decide Whether Indiana Can Survive USCs Attack
USC brings one of the Big Tens most dangerous passing attacks into this matchup, and Indianas best answer may come from the front line. The Trojans have leaned on quarterback Jayden Maiava to drive the offense, while the Hoosiers have built their defensive identity around getting pressure and disrupting timing before a play can fully develop.
Tobi Osunsanmi is at the center of that challenge. Indiana has to find a way to make USC uncomfortable early and often, because if Maiava settles in, the Trojans can turn a game fast through the air. The Hoosiers have shown they can defend at a high level, but this one may hinge on whether Osunsanmi and the pass rush can force USC out of rhythm before the secondary has to hold up for long stretches. [Read more 🡒]