INDIANAPOLIS – For the first two games of the season, Indiana basketball hadn’t faced much adversity. Comfortable victories against Eastern Illinois and Bellarmine allowed the Hoosiers to showcase their offensive firepower, but Monday night’s matchup against Syracuse presented an entirely different challenge.
Trailing by five points with just over six minutes remaining, Indiana found itself in unfamiliar territory for the first time this season. But rather than unraveling, the Hoosiers embraced the pressure, leaning on timely contributions from their backcourt and a breakout performance from Jaeden Mustaf to secure an 83-80 victory at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“From a coaching standpoint, you see that response. Until you’re in that situation, you don’t know for sure,” Indiana head coach Darian DeVries said postgame. “I thought the guys did a great job handling that.”
DeVries emphasized the importance of his team’s composure, especially during a late timeout after a controversial foul call shifted momentum away from the pro-Indiana crowd. Despite the five-point deficit, he noticed his players communicating and remaining focused on the next possession rather than dwelling on previous mishaps.
“There wasn’t a lot of panic,” DeVries said. “It was very much the next play. They weren’t worried about the last play.”
That mentality was tested throughout a back-and-forth contest featuring 13 lead changes and 11 ties.
Indiana struggled offensively in the opening half, shooting just 37 percent from the field and 3-of-14 from beyond the arc. Syracuse capitalized on that inconsistency, taking a 38-34 advantage into halftime behind efficient perimeter shooting (5-of-9).
But whatever momentum the Orange carried into the locker room disappeared almost immediately after the break, thanks to Darren Harris.
The junior guard opened the second half with eight consecutive points, knocking down a 3-pointer, converting three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt and intercepting a Gavin Doty pass for a fast-break dunk. In the first 80 seconds, Harris single-handedly turned a four-point deficit into a 42-38 advantage, forcing Syracuse head coach Gerry McNamara to call a timeout.
Harris finished with 20 points, including 14 in the second half and went 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. His performance marked his second straight 20-point outing after he scored a career-high 23 against Bellarmine.
However, Syracuse refused to disappear. Freshman Ryan Moesch, who finished with a team-high 19 points and six assists, provided a spark off the bench. His perimeter shooting and ability to create offense helped the Orange reclaim a 66-61 advantage with 6:24 remaining.
Indiana responded with an 8-2 run, fueled by consecutive 3-pointers from Markus Burton and Mustaf, before Bryce Lindsay’s free throws gave the Hoosiers a 69-68 lead.
Mustaf proved instrumental in keeping Indiana within striking distance throughout the night. The junior finished with 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, adding seven rebounds, including three on the offensive glass.
Rather than relying on designed plays, Mustaf generated opportunities through his physicality, willing to battle for second-chance possessions.
“I don’t really go into the game focusing on, I have to score, I have to do this,” Mustaf said. “I’ve got to be a leader on defense.”
DeVries praised Mustaf’s versatility, highlighting his ability to defend multiple positions while contributing offensively without needing plays called specifically for him.
“I thought he was our best player out there tonight for a lot of different reasons,” DeVries said. “I thought he was really productive.”
Mustaf’s defensive impact was particularly evident against Doty, who entered the contest as one of the Orange’s primary offensive threats. The Siena transfer previously scored 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting against Indiana last December, but managed just five points on 2-of-7 shooting Monday, including an 0-of-3 performance from beyond the arc.
Mustaf initially drew the assignment against Doty before Indiana rotated other defenders onto him. DeVries acknowledged that limiting the familiar opponent was a significant part of the defensive game plan.
“We wanted to neutralize him,” DeVries said. “Overall, I thought the group did a good job of executing that portion of it.”
Indiana also controlled the rebounding battle, holding a 37-28 advantage, including 14 offensive boards. Those extra opportunities proved crucial on a night Syracuse shot over 50 percent from the field compared to Indiana’s 42 percent.
The final minutes demanded another response.
With Indiana trailing 70-69, Harris passed up a contested opportunity and found Burton open for a 3-pointer with 2:45 remaining. Syracuse continued answering, eventually tying the game at 74 before Harris drew a foul on a 3-point attempt and converted all three free throws with 1:14 left.
A defensive stop followed, with Samet Yigitoglu collecting a rebound and converting two free throws. Mustaf then threw down a dunk off a Harris assist with 25 seconds remaining and Lindsay added two free throws to extend Indiana’s advantage to 83-78.
Even then, the outcome remained unsettled.
Syracuse cut the deficit to three with four seconds remaining and an Indiana turnover gave the Orange one final opportunity. Kiyan Anthony’s potential game-tying 3-pointer missed, with Harris securing the rebound as time expired.
The victory improved Indiana to 3-0, but DeVries acknowledged there remains plenty to address, particularly defensively. Still, the ability to execute through adversity provided an encouraging sign for a team preparing for the challenges ahead.
“There’s going to be different things that happen,” DeVries said. “You’ve got to be able to respond to them and find a way still. They did that today.”
