DAYTON, Ohio — If we had told you two weeks ago that Indiana would not only play an NCAA Tournament game, but also win and control their opponent from start to finish, what would you say?
The Hoosiers (21-13) did just that on Tuesday night, using their suffocating defense, as well as the frontcourt presence of Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jordan Geronimo, grabbing a 66-58 victory over Wyoming (25-9).
Indiana’s only injury concern, Geronimo (knee), warmed up before the game in a full capacity. He was given the green light, which meant all 13 Hoosier scholarship players were available for the First Four showdown.
Mike Woodson started the same five that took the floor on opening night vs. Eastern Michigan: Xavier Johnson, Parker Stewart, Miller Kopp, Race Thompson, and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Nerves clearly affected both teams in the initial phase of the contest. It was the first NCAA Tournament game for IU since 2016, and the first for Wyoming since 2015.
Indiana missed six of its first seven shots. Wyoming one-upped the Hoosiers, missing seven of eight. An awkward palmed shot in the paint by Stewart clanged in off the backboard to give IU an early 4-3 lead.
The Hoosiers went ahead 9-3 through baskets by Johnson and Thompson, but Wyoming would settle into the game thanks to scores from all-Mountain West point guard Hunter Maldonado and starter Brendan Wenzel.
The defenses were ahead of the offenses on both ends of the floor for the vast majority of the first half. The matchup of the night pitted IU’s preseason All-American Jackson-Davis against Wyoming’s star forward, Graham Ike. Jackson-Davis went at Ike repeatedly, to the tune of 14 first half points on 4-6 from the field. Jackson-Davis also made six of his seven first half free throws. He also moved his way up on IU’s all-time scoring list.