NASSAU PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – When Indiana faced off with BC Mega in their first exhibition game on Aug. 13, Indiana was more aggressive, tougher, faster, and just seemed to want it more.

The same can be said for the second and final exhibition game in the Bahamas.  

Head coach Mike Woodson must have liked what he saw from his starting lineup in the first exhibition as he rolled out the same starting five for game two. Trayce Jackson-Davis, Race Thompson, and Miller Kopp filled up the frontcourt while Xavier Johnson and Parker Stewart controlled the backcourt.

Indiana came out and picked up right where they left off in the first exhibition game.

IU’s first two shots were three-point attempts by Race Thompson and Miller Kopp that both found the bottom of the basket.

Shortly after hitting his three, Kopp attacked the offensive glass and came down awkwardly on his ankle with 16:23 remaining in the first half. He would head to the locker room and return to the bench later with ice around his right foot and ankle.

Defensive intensity also carried over from game 1.

IU led 12-2 at the first timeout in the half. The Cream and Crimson were outrebounding BC Mega early and forced two turnovers to propel their lead to 10.

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Miller Kopp’s ankle injury forced players to step up in the first half with scoring the basketball.

Insert Xavier Johnson.

Johnson was aggressive throughout the entire first half. The transfer from Pitt was able to attack the basket downhill to get easy layups and free throws. Johnson led IU at the half with eight points.

“He really made an emphasis on getting downhill,” said TJD. “It started in the first half…and then in the second half he came back and knocked a few jumpers down and our team was good to go. He was running the show.”

BC Mega was not going to go away easy. They got back in the game after hitting four consecutive three-point baskets to make it 18-14 with just under 10 minutes remaining.

The professional team from Serbia also turned the pressure up on defense and forced Indiana to turn the ball over a handful of times during a near three-minute stretch. IU was able to make their way to the foul line to keep their lead throughout the half.

After a near two-and-a-half-minute drought of no field goals, 5-star freshman Tamar Bates hit a step-back three from the top of the key.

— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) August 15, 2021