Indiana Hoosiers beat Syracuse Orange 83-80 in Indianapolis

Syracuse Falls 83-80 to Indiana in Hard-Fought Indianapolis Clash

The Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team came up just short against the Indiana Hoosiers on Monday night, dropping an 83-80 decision at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Syracuse entered the second half holding a slim advantage before Indiana surged ahead behind a dominant backcourt performance. The non-conference matchup featured a steady exchange of momentum swings and lead changes before the Hoosiers ultimately sealed the three-point victory.

Syracuse moved to a 2-1 record on the young season, while Indiana improved to 3-0. The Orange will now prepare for a matchup against No. 13 St. John’s at Madison Square Garden.

Syracuse Orange vs Indiana Hoosiers Highlights | FOX College Hoops

Backcourt Trio Drives Indiana Offense While Syracuse Finds Bench Production

The Hoosiers relied heavily on their backcourt trio to carry the offensive load. Markus Burton and Darren Harris each tallied 20 points, while Jaeden Mustaf added 18 points. Together, the three players accounted for 58 of Indiana’s 83 total points.

Syracuse found production through its bench, with Ryan Moesch and Kiyan Anthony anchoring the rotation. Moesch paced the Orange with a team-high 19 points alongside six assists, while Anthony contributed 16 points and three assists. Additional offensive support came from Sadiq White Jr. with 13 points and Luke Wilson with 11 points.

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The Orange struck first in the opening minutes, establishing an early lead behind steady shooting and defensive stops. Indiana countered with a strong 9-0 run in the first half sparked by Mustaf and Burton to claim its first advantage of the evening. Syracuse managed to steady its footing before halftime, taking a 38-34 lead into the locker room following a late corner three-pointer by White Jr.

Indiana Takes Control Before Syracuse Rallies in Second Half

Indiana seized control early in the second half as foul trouble mounted for Syracuse. Harris ignited an 8-0 personal scoring run out of the break, prompting an immediate timeout from the Orange sideline with the score standing at 42-38 in favor of the hosts.

Indiana Hoosiers beat Syracuse Orange 83-80 in Indianapolis — Photo: sports.yahoo.com

Syracuse answered through Moesch, whose deep perimeter shooting and driving layups eventually put the Orange back in front 61-59. The two programs continued trading blows down the stretch, with lead changes occurring into the final minutes. A pair of clutch perimeter shots from Burton and Mustaf helped the Hoosiers reclaim the advantage.

Trailing by three points with the clock down to under a minute left, Syracuse secured an offensive rebound following a tough shot by Moesch, but a subsequent follow-up attempt came up just short. After late intentional fouling, the Orange gained possession with under five seconds remaining, but Anthony’s tying three-point attempt missed wide as the clock expired.

Indiana wins this one, 83-80. Good win for the Hoosiers, who triumphed despite shooting 42% compared to 51% for Syracuse. Burton and Harris with 20 points apiece and Mustaf with 18. IU needs more from its bigs and bench, but it's 3-0.

— Post by @DylanSinn on X