Indiana’s men’s basketball team (13-5, 4-3 Big Ten) faced a challenging defeat against Illinois (13-4, 5-2 Big Ten) on Tuesday night, losing 94-69 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington. This loss marks the second consecutive game where the Hoosiers have suffered a blowout defeat, having been previously defeated by Iowa 85-60 on January 11. Notably, all five of Indiana’s losses this season have come by margins of at least 16 points.
In this latest matchup, Indiana fell behind dramatically, trailing by as much as 30 points in the first half, and ended the half with a 60-32 deficit — the largest halftime deficit for the Hoosiers in the last 25 years, according to ESPN Stats and Information. Illinois was highly effective, shooting 48.8% from the field, making 8 of 19 three-pointers, and overwhelming Indiana on the boards in the first half with a 29-18 rebounding advantage.
The scene in the arena became somber as many fans left at halftime, signaling their frustration with the team’s performance. Although the Hoosiers briefly ignited hope in the second half by cutting the lead to 18 points, Illinois quickly restored their dominance with a decisive 10-0 run, extending their lead back to 30 points.
Sixth-year senior center Oumar Ballo led the team with 16 points and secured 15 rebounds, showing resilience despite the outcome. Other contributors included senior forward Luke Goode with 13 points, redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice with 12 points, and fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway with 10 points. However, tensions flared in the closing minutes of the game when Ballo was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul, and a postgame handshake was skipped by both teams after multiple technical fouls were assessed.
Overall, Indiana managed only 38.5% shooting from the field and was 22.2% from beyond the arc, while Illinois boasted a 51-37 rebounding advantage and finished the game with 11 three-pointers.
The Hoosiers will look to rebound from this defeat when they face Ohio State on Friday at 8 p.m. in Columbus, Ohio. There is hope that with adjustments and renewed focus, Indiana can turn their season around and reclaim some momentum in the Big Ten.