Exciting Opinions on the Impressive 69-63 Victory Over Florida Gulf Coast:
Breakdown of the Game
Following a strong performance against NAIA Marian on Friday night, Indiana’s offense initially struggled against Florida Gulf Coast. The Hoosiers lacked offensive rhythm and had nearly as many free throws (18) as field goals (20) in the first half. Unfortunately, Indiana wasn’t successful from the line, only making 10 out of 18 free throws in the first half. They also experienced prolonged periods without scoring, including one that lasted over seven minutes. Kel’el Ware’s performance stood out, with eight points, eight rebounds, and three blocked shots in 17 minutes. Defensively, Indiana allowed five 3-pointers but limited the Eagles to only .82 points per possession.
Indiana improved offensively at the start of the second half, scoring 10 points in the first 4:14 to take a four-point lead at 38-34. Malik Reneau contributed six of those 10 points. However, Florida Gulf Coast responded by hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game at 40 with 13:52 to play. The Eagles then stretched their lead to six at 48-42 with 10:54 to play on a Dallion Johnson 3-pointer. Nevertheless, Indiana rallied with a 10-0 run to gain a 52-48 lead with 8:41 to go, prompting Pat Chambers to call a timeout. The run extended to 14-0 before Florida Gulf Coast scored on a jumper by Johnson with 5:52 remaining. The Hoosiers then increased the lead to 11 with a Gabe Cupps 3-pointer with 3:58 remaining. Florida Gulf Coast didn’t back down, using an 8-0 run over 42 seconds to narrow the lead to two at 65-63. Xavier Johnson made one free throw with 28.2 seconds left to give Indiana a 66-63 lead. After a missed Florida Gulf Coast 3-pointer by Chase Johnston, Johnson made a pair of free throws, extending the lead to 68-63 for the Hoosiers.
Standout Performers
Ware made an impressive IU debut with a double-double, recording 13 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocked shots, and two steals in 36 minutes. Trey Galloway finished with a team-high 16 points, Malik Reneau added 15, and Xavier Johnson had 14 points in 34 minutes. The defense and spark Cupps provided down the stretch changed the game for the Hoosiers.
Notable Statistics
Despite being outscored by 27 points from beyond the 3-point line, Indiana dominated the points in the paint (30-18) and also outscored Florida Gulf Coast by 17 points from the free-throw line.
Final Individual Statistics for IU
Final Tempo-Free Statistics
Postgame Show by Assembly Call
Filed to: Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
