IU basketball: Indiana 89 Providence 73 — Three keys, highlights, final stats

PARADISE ISLAND, The Bahamas — Indiana defeated Providence on Friday at the Imperial Arena by a final score of 89-73.

Indiana led at halftime, 44-34. The Hoosiers were led in the game by Mackenzie Mgbako with 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting including 4-of-7 from three.

The three keys to the game, highlights, and final stats are below. Indiana concludes the Battle 4 Atlantis with a 1-2 record and a seventh place finish.

For Mike Woodson and Mackenzie Mgbako postgame, GO HERE.

The Hoosiers (5-2) return to action next Tuesday vs. Sam Houston State in Bloomington.

THREE KEYS TO THE GAME

1. A balanced attack. Indiana got scoring from their backcourt, the wing and the block. Mackenzie Mgbako led the way for IU with 25 points. He was joined by Malik Reneau with 21, and Trey Galloway with 18. Those three shot 24-of-35 for the game. Mgbako and Galloway were a combined 7-of-11 from three-point range, as IU shot 53.3% from the field overall and from three, and 85 percent from the foul line. Live stats credits IU for 1.27 points per possession in a highly efficient effort.

2. Improvement in ball security. An issue that has plagued IU wasn’t major problem against Providence. Indiana committed just 10 turnovers for the contest, and they had 20 assists. Big man Oumar Ballo has three of the miscues, as the Hoosier guards kept the mistakes in check. With the Hoosiers shooting the ball well, more possessions without giveaways led to a strong afternoon on the offensive end.

3. Hoosiers push the pace. Perhaps it was because they knew Providence had tired legs after playing last night. Or perhaps they were just intent on playing fast. But Indiana pushed the tempo on both misses and makes. The live stats say the Hoosiers had 16 fast break points. But everything IU did on offense was fast, even their ball movement in the half court. Reneau got out ahead of the break and got early post position, Galloway was downhill and aggressive, and Mgbako and Luke Goode were hunting shots in transition.

HIGHLIGHTS