The Indiana men’s basketball team faced another tough defeat, falling 94-69 to Illinois at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington on Tuesday night. This loss marks the Hoosiers’ second consecutive game where they have been outscored by 25 points, following an 85-60 setback against Iowa just days prior. This season, all five of Indiana’s losses have been by at least 16 points, highlighting their struggles in maintaining competitiveness.
In a disappointing first half, the Hoosiers trailed by as much as 30 points and ended the half down 60-32. This 28-point halftime deficit is the largest for Indiana in the last 25 seasons, according to ESPN Stats and Information. The Fighting Illini showcased strong performance, shooting 48.8% from the field and netting eight three-pointers while dominating the rebounding battle with a 29-18 advantage by halftime. Many fans expressed their frustrations, leaving the arena before the halftime break concluded.
The second half brought a slight resurgence for Indiana, as they narrowed the gap to 18 points at one stage. However, Illinois countered with a decisive 10-0 run, extending its lead once again to 30 points. Sixth-year senior center Oumar Ballo was a significant contributor for Indiana, finishing the game with 16 points and 15 rebounds, but his contributions were overshadowed after he was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul late in the game after a confrontation with Illinois’ Tomislav Ivišić.
Other notable performances came from senior forward Luke Goode with 13 points, redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice with 12 points, and fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway, who added 10 points. The Hoosiers, however, struggled with shooting accuracy, finishing at 38.5% from the field and just 22.2% from beyond the arc.
The upcoming game on Friday against Ohio State at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus offers Indiana an opportunity to bounce back. With nine games left in the regular season, the Hoosiers must refocus and find ways to improve both defensively and offensively if they wish to turn their season around and compete in the Big Ten.
In light of their recent performance, there is hope that Indiana can regain its footing and rally for a stronger showing in future games. This turnaround will be crucial as they continue through the intense conference schedule.