IU basketball: Indiana 90 Tennessee Tech 66 — Three keys, highlights, final stats

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana defeated Tennessee Tech at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall Thursday evening by a final score of 90-66.

The three keys to the game, highlights, and final stats are below.

Indiana led 41-37 at halftime. The Hoosiers were led in the game by Samet Yigitoglu with 18 points. Bryce Lindsay added 15 off the bench.

This breaking story will be updated.

Stay tuned to The Daily Hoosier for more coverage of the game.

THREE KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Second half awakening. In a first half full of fouls and physicality, Indiana could never get on track. The Hoosiers were outrebounded in the first half and shot just 40.7% from the floor. Tennessee Tech was called for 17 first half fouls and while that gave IU 23 free throws, it also kept the Hoosiers from getting into a rhythm. But in the second half IU shot 66.7% from the field, good for 1.44 points per possession. After going scoreless in the first half, Markus Burton scored 12 after the break.

2. Defense good then better. IU faced a major challenge against Tennessee Tech’s pace and three-point shooting. They were up to the challenge. Indiana held the Golden Eagles to just 34.3% shooting overall, including just 29% from three on 31 attempts. The Hoosiers also forced 15 turnovers. In the second half Tennessee Tech shot just 31.6% overall and 23.1% from three with seven turnovers.

3. Samet’s size and toughness. Samet Yigitoglu had a major size advantage in this game, and he took full advantage. The 7-foot-2 Turkish tower scored the first six points of the game. He took a shot in the eye and had to leave with his face covered in blood. But he returned and finished with 18 points and six rebounds on 9 of 10 shooting. Yigitoglu did all that in just 17 minutes on the floor.

HIGHLIGHTS

Will be added shortly.

FINAL STATS