Indiana Hoosiers Open Season with Victory

The Indiana Hoosiers opened their basketball season with an 80-61 victory over SIU-Edwardsville, led by sophomore Mackenzie Mgbako, who scored a career-high 31 points and grabbed nine rebounds. The Hoosiers struggled with turnovers, finishing with 16, and allowed the Cougars to capitalize with 14 points off those mistakes. Mgbako, who scored 19 points in the first half, helped Indiana erase a late tie with a crucial three-pointer, fueling a 15-3 run to end the half. Despite shooting 37% from the three-point line, Indiana's shooting woes continued as they struggled outside of Mgbako's performance. Malik Reneau and Oumar Ballo contributed 15 points each, helping to maintain control throughout the game. The Hoosiers are slated to face Eastern Illinois next, looking to build on their season-opening success.