IU fans didn’t have to panic on Twitter tonight.
Back at Assembly Hall for the first time in almost two weeks, Indiana (9-3, 1-1 B1G) bounced back after consecutive losses, blowing out Elon (2-11), 96-72. IU did not have Trayce Jackson-Davis and Xavier Johnson tonight, but a multitude of Hoosiers stepped up in their absence. Race Thompson scored a team-high 18 points and recorded his first double-double of the season.
Once again, Indiana fans did not take much of a liking to the Hoosiers’ start. The Phoenix, who were shorthanded themselves, scored the game’s first points and kept with IU for the entirety of the first ten minutes. Indiana lacked energy in the early going, dragging themselves up and down the floor and playing disconnected basketball.
Miller Kopp did his best to spark Indiana in the first phase of the game. Kopp scored IU’s first eight points, including two three-pointers. Even with his sharpshooting, Elon had the score at 27-25, in favor of the Hoosiers, with 10 minutes left. Phoenix guard Sean Halloran had six points and a couple assists during that stage. Elon was on fire from deep as well.
Mike Woodson was able to roll in his reserves early and often without two of his starters, and a third player, Jordan Geronimo, wearing a wrap on his wrist. After the game, Woodson confirmed Geronimo was unavailable due to a dislocated finger.
Tamar Bates and CJ Gunn made a positive impression for IU in the buildup to halftime.
Bates poured in a three with a few seconds of his entrance into the game, and parlayed that into eight first-half points. Gunn contributed through rebounding and defense before a couple of baskets, including a highlight-reel tip dunk, pushed IU’s lead out to 18 points at halftime.
