Indiana Pulled Away From Tennessee Tech 90–66 by Going Back Inside

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Samet Yigitoglu scored on Indiana’s first three possessions, left with a cut above his eye, returned after getting stitches and still finished with a game-high 18 points. He needed only 17 minutes and 10 shots to do it. His night was the clearest example of how the Hoosiers turned a competitive first half into a 90–66 win over Tennessee Tech on Thursday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Indiana improved to 4–0 and has scored at least 80 points in all four games. The final margin hides how long the Golden Eagles made Indiana work. The Hoosiers led just 41–37 at halftime before winning the second half 49–29. Indiana made 15 two-point baskets after halftime, up from eight in the first half.

Yigitoglu gave Indiana an answer close to the basket

Tennessee Tech opened by defending Yigitoglu one-on-one in the post. He took advantage immediately, scoring Indiana’s first six points. He finished 9-for-10 from the floor with six rebounds. Indiana outscored Tennessee Tech 44–28 in the paint, an advantage that held up even with Yigitoglu off the floor for much of the game.

The value of those post touches extends beyond the points Yigitoglu scores himself. If he gets the catch deep enough, a defender has to choose between giving up a short shot and asking for help. An early double gives Indiana’s guards time to move the ball and attack a closeout. If the help stays home, Indiana can keep feeding its center. Against a team with more size, Indiana will have to work harder to get him that first catch. The benefit is still there if the guards deliver the ball before the defense is set.

The second half changed at both ends

Indiana shot 11-for-27 before halftime and 18-for-27 afterward. The Hoosiers made three 3-pointers in each half, so all seven additional makes after the break came from inside the arc. Indiana also attempted 36 free throws and made 26. Jaeden Mustaf got to the line 10 times, and Aiden Sherrell went 6-for-6. Even on a night when the team made just six threes, Indiana had enough ways to score.

Tennessee Tech made just 12 of 38 shots after halftime, including three of 13 from deep. Indiana finished with a 41–35 rebounding edge, led by Sherrell’s eight boards. The Golden Eagles had plenty of chances to put shots up. Indiana separated by making it harder for those possessions to yield points while getting better returns from its own trips.

The bench gave DeVries options when the game was close

Bryce Lindsay scored 15 off the bench and hit half of Indiana’s six threes. Freshman Trevor Manhertz added 10 points and five rebounds on 4-for-5 shooting. His first-half dunk and four-point play helped Indiana respond when Tennessee Tech took the lead. Sam Alexis added six rebounds and four blocks in 18 minutes. Those contributions gave Darian DeVries different ways to get through the stretches when Yigitoglu was unavailable.

There is still a possession problem for Indiana to clean up. The Hoosiers committed 15 turnovers and Tennessee Tech took 67 shots to Indiana’s 54. Free throws and efficient finishing made that gap manageable on Thursday. Against a team that converts more of its chances, Indiana will need to keep more of its own possessions alive, particularly when opponents deny the entry pass and force the guards to start the offense again.

Indiana goes to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday to face Arkansas. The matchup will offer a better measure of whether Indiana can get the same deep catches and create the same driving lanes against a ranked opponent. I’ll be watching the first few possessions when the perimeter shots miss. Thursday showed that Yigitoglu can give Indiana a dependable place to go with the ball and that Lindsay and Manhertz can keep the offense moving when DeVries turns to his bench. Arkansas will test how long those options stay available when the defense has the size to take away the first look.