Quick thoughts on IU basketball’s 96-68 exhibition win at Butler:
Quick game summary
Indiana led from the 18:32 mark in the first half and built an early cushion on a hot start from guard Markus Burton. The Notre Dame transfer scored 11 of IU’s first 13 points and the Hoosiers built a 13-4 cushion by the 14:16 mark. Indiana would claim its largest lead of the opening 20 minutes just moments later at 17-6 on a layup by Samet Yigitoglu.
IU’s defensive intensity, however, waned as the first half wore on and Butler made timely 3-pointers and got to the line 13 times. Butler spaced the Hoosiers out and created mismatches, leaving them out of position and committing 13 fouls. On the positive side of things for IU, the Hoosiers grabbed 12 offensive rebounds and outscored Butler 15-5 in second-chance points in the first half. IU also made six 3-pointers in the first half: three from Burton, two from Darren Harris and one from Bryce Lindsay. A late-half Butler rally drew the Hoosiers within three at 44-41 at the break.
Burton picked up his third foul early in the second half and was forced back to the bench. The Hoosiers stretched the lead to six at 54-48 but the Bulldogs quickly responded to get within four at the under 16-media timeout. Out of that break, Butler got within one at 54-53 on a Jalen Jackson 3-pointer. It was all IU from there.
The Hoosiers quickly answered with a Bryce Lindsay 3-pointer to push the margin back to four. The lead stretched to nine at 64-55 on a Trevor Manhertz 3-pointer with 12:18 to play. Another Manhertz 3-pointer gave IU its biggest lead of the evening at 67-55 with 11:19 remaining. Indiana’s run stretched to 14-1, which included a 3-point play from Sam Alexis, a 3-pointer from Jaeden Mustaf and a jumper from Darren Harris, as the Hoosiers claimed a 75-56 advantage at the 8:30 mark, forcing a Butler timeout. A pair of free throws from Alexis with 5:57 to play gave IU a 24-point cushion at 81-57, putting the game out of reach.
Standout performers
Four Hoosiers finished in double figures – Burton with 13, Yigitoglu with 13, Harris with 13 and Aiden Sherrell with 10. Sherrell also added nine rebounds. Manhertz finished with seven points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Statistics that stand out
The Hoosiers outscored Butler 25-5 on second-chance points and held the Bulldogs to just 9-for-27 shooting and 27 second-half points. Indiana shot 13-for-33 from beyond the arc, good for 39.4 percent.
Up next for IU
The Hoosiers continue exhibition play against North Carolina next Sunday, October 18, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET on B1G+.
Final IU individual statistics
Final tempo-free statistics
