Indiana men’s basketball faced another disappointing defeat, falling to Illinois 94-69 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington on Tuesday night. With this loss, Indiana’s record now stands at 13-5 overall and 4-3 in the Big Ten, having suffered back-to-back losses by significant margins.
The matchup saw Indiana trail by as much as 30 points in the first half, ending halftime with a considerable 60-32 deficit—marking the Hoosiers’ largest halftime gap in the past 25 seasons. Illinois demonstrated impressive offensive prowess, shooting 48.8% from the field and successfully draining 8 of 19 three-point attempts while out-rebounding Indiana 29-18.
Many fans expressed their dissatisfaction, leaving the arena at halftime, signaling the team’s struggle to meet expectations. Although Indiana briefly energized their supporters in the second half by cutting the deficit to 18 points, Illinois responded decisively with a quick 10-0 run, restoring their commanding lead.
Oumar Ballo, the standout sixth-year senior for Indiana, led the team with 16 points and 15 rebounds before being ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul late in the game. Other contributions came from senior Luke Goode with 13 points, Myles Rice with 12, and Trey Galloway with 10. Unfortunately, Indiana struggled offensively, only shooting 38.5% from the field and a mere 22.2% from beyond the arc.
Looking ahead, Indiana will aim to turn things around when they face Ohio State at 8 p.m. Friday at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus. The team will be eager to find a solution to their recent challenges and reclaim their competitive edge in the Big Ten. With determination and a focus on improvement, they will have the opportunity to bounce back and energize their fan base once again.