Indiana defeated Tennessee Tech 90-66 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Thursday evening.
The Hoosiers moved to a 4-0 record with the win, though the margin of victory belied a disjointed opening half. While the final score suggests a blowout, the early stages of the contest were defined by physical play and a lack of offensive rhythm for the home side.
According to The Daily Hoosier, Indiana held a narrow 41-37 lead at the halftime break. The narrow margin reflected a struggle to find footing against a Tennessee Tech squad that utilized physicality to disrupt the Hoosiers’ flow.
The first half was a gritty, low-efficiency affair. Indiana struggled to establish an offensive identity, shooting just 40.7% from the floor. Tennessee Tech’s aggressive approach resulted in 17 first-half fouls, which provided Indiana with 23 free throw attempts but simultaneously prevented the Hoosiers from finding a consistent shooting cadence.
The momentum shifted dramatically after the intermission. Indiana’s efficiency spiked in the second half, as the team shot 66.7% from the field. This surge resulted in a massive 1.44 points per possession for the Hoosiers during the final 20 minutes.
Markus Burton helped drive this second-half resurgence. After failing to score in the first half, Burton tallied 12 points following the break to help pull the game away from the Golden Eagles.
Tennessee Tech entered the game with a reputation for high-scoring offense, averaging more than 100 points per game. However, the Indiana defense tightened as the contest progressed, effectively neutralizing that scoring threat.
The Hoosiers’ defensive unit forced 15 turnovers over the course of the game. While the Golden Eagles managed 34.3% shooting overall, including 29% from beyond the arc on 31 attempts, the second half was particularly difficult for the visitors. Indiana held Tennessee Tech to just 29 points in the second half, while the Golden Eagles’ shooting plummeted to 31.6% overall and 23.1% from three-point range.
| Category | Indiana | Tennessee Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 90 | 66 |
| Halftime Score | 41 | 37 |
| Second Half Field Goal % | 66.7% | 31.6% |
| Three-Point Shooting | — | 29% (on 31 attempts) |
The most dominant individual performance came from Samet Yigitoglu, whose physical presence proved too much for the Tennessee Tech interior defense. The 7-foot-2 Turkish center utilized his size advantage to score the first six points of the game.
Yigitoglu’s night was not without its physical tolls. He took a shot to the eye that required him to leave the court briefly with his face covered in blood, but he returned to finish the game with 18 points and six rebounds. His efficiency was remarkable, converting 9 of his 10 field goal attempts in just 17 minutes of play.
Bryce Lindsay provided additional depth for the Hoosiers, contributing 15 points off the bench to ensure the scoring remained balanced during the second-half surge.
Indiana now prepares for a difficult road test. The team travels to New York to face Arkansas on Tuesday.
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