Down a starter, Indiana flashed its best 32 minutes this season at a good time — at the start of the Big Ten season.
IU jumped on Maryland from the outset, and claimed a 16-4 lead with 13:51 left in the first half. The Terps would never lead and never get closer than seven, and IU went into the half with a 40-28 edge. A 10-0 early second half run by the Hoosiers was decisive. Indiana led 61-39 with 8:08 remaining but got sloppy down the stretch and Maryland was able to make the game look closer than it actually was.
Let’s take a deeper look at how the Hoosiers won 65-53 with another edition of The Report Card.
Indiana (6-1, 1-0) will next face Michigan on Tuesday evening in Ann Arbor.
OFFENSE (B-)
Indiana was pretty good on the offensive end for the first 28 minutes, but pretty much fell apart over the last 12. After a Trey Galloway layup with 11:24 left gave IU a 58-35 lead, they’d only score seven more points the rest of the game, and they committed 10 turnovers in that span. Did they let off the gas? That certainly seemed to be part of the issue, and not having Xavier Johnson to handle pressure late was not helpful.
If you focus on the first 28 minutes, Indiana was on pace for more than 80 points, and they only committed five turnovers before things went south. They handled Maryland’s press and zone seamlessly.
What was working for Indiana was some points via transition and off turnovers. Galloway did a nice job pushing the pace. IU’s big men bullied Maryland, and the Hoosiers grabbed 15 offensive rebounds. Indiana shot 52 percent over the first 28 minutes. They were efficient both in the half court and on the fast break.
But of course the game is 40 minutes, and if IU hadn’t done so much to build a massive lead, they might have been in jeopardy of giving it away late.
For the full game they only scored .98 points per possession, with an effective field goal percentage of 48.2 and a turnover rate of 24.1. Indiana has lost plenty of games with a line like that.
“I’ve got to do a better job helping this team offensively because I didn’t think we executed the last seven, eight minutes of this ballgame, and that’s on me,” Mike Woodson said after the game.
Still, it seems more relevant to focus on the first 28 minutes, the 23-point lead, and playing without Xavier Johnson.
DEFENSE (A-)
Let’s make no mistake here — Maryland is not a good 3-point shooting team. But Indiana didn’t give up the open looks that have been plaguing over the first month of the season.
“Our perimeter play, was really good tonight from a defensive standpoint,” Woodson said. “I mean, you know, held this team to 53 points, I’d say you’ve done a pretty good job defensively. We were connected tonight. We didn’t give up a lot of threes. I thought our switching was right on par. We had a few miscues but we didn’t let this team get into the teeth of our defense very much.”
Maryland shot a miserable 2-of-16 from three.
Jahmir Young was the real challenge for IU, and that was only amplified with Johnson out. Young was productive but at no point did it feel like he was taking over the game.
Maryland had more turnovers (12) than assists (8) and scored just .8 points per possession, the least IU has allowed to a high major opponent since their game against Wisconsin last season.
And IU outrebounded Maryland by a decisive margin, 46-30.
“That’s something we talked about in pregame that our wings and perimeter guys had to get in and mix it up a little bit and get rebounds, and I thought we did a great job in that regard,” Galloway said after the game.
MORE GAME COVERAGE
- Kel’el Ware thrived for Indiana in physical Maryland matchup
- Watch: Woodson, Galloway and Ware discuss win over Maryland
- IU basketball: Indiana 65 Maryland 53 — Three keys, highlights, final stats
- Xavier Johnson is out for Indiana’s game against Maryland, Cupps gets first start
THE PLAYERS
*Trey Galloway (A-) – Galloway appeared to be in Big Ten form. And he appeared to be on a mission with Johnson out. He was highly impactful in every facet except shooting away from the paint. Just ask Maryland coach Kevin Willard: “I thought Trey Galloway played great. I thought he was the difference in the game.”
*Malik Reneau (C) Reneau was back in freshman form, with fouls and turnovers limiting his effectiveness.
*Kel’el Ware (A) Maryland was clearly focused on taking Ware away, but he handled doubles and digs well. The Terps also tried to get physical with the 7-footer but he was still an efficient 8-of-12 from the field. He was highly productive on the glass with a career high 14. And while he had just one block, Ware influenced plenty of Maryland misses.
*Mackenzie Mgbako (A-) The freshman has now stacked consecutive good games. Perhaps most impressive is his aggressiveness on the glass and willingness to mix it up physically. He also had a career best three assists. Mgbako seems to be cutting back on defensive mistakes with improved awareness.
*Gabe Cupps (C) The freshman got thrown into the fire to mixed reviews. He held up reasonably well on the defensive end. Woodson was smart to put Galloway on Young to shield Cupps. He had a couple steals, but also no points, no assists and two turnovers.
Anthony Walker (B) Walker has a knack for making tough shots around the rim, and he was good on the defensive end.
Kaleb Banks (B-) The effort was clearly there, but Banks couldn’t get anything to fall on this night.
C.J. Gunn (B-) His shooting struggles continued, but Gunn was impactful on the defensive end with three steals.
Payton Sparks (B-) Sparks rebounded well, but Maryland’s length bothered him on the offensive end.
Anthony Leal (B) Leal was effective in the first half in the middle of the press break. It wasn’t wise to have him trying to initiate the press break in the second half, however.
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Xavier Johnson was out with a lower leg injury. Jakai Newton (knee) is out long-term.
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