BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Oumar Ballo had 18 points, Malik Reneau and Bryson Tucker both scored 16 and Indiana posted an 82-67 victory over Minnesota in the Hoosiers’ Big Ten Conference opener on Monday night.
Ballo made all five of his shots from the floor and added seven rebounds for the Hoosiers (8-2). He made 8 of 11 at the free throw line after shooting 54.2% there (26 for 48). Reneau hit 7 of 10 shots and grabbed seven rebounds. Tucker had six boards and made six of 10 shots off the bench.
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Reserve Kanaan Carlyle hit three of Indiana’s four 3-pointers and scored 14 total points with five assists. Mackenzie Mgbako scored 13.
Dawson Garcia led the Golden Gophers (6-5, 0-2) with 22 points on 9-for-15 shooting. Mike Mitchell Jr. and Lu’Cye Patterson both scored 10.
Ballo and Tucker both had 11 points and Reneau scored 10, leading Indiana to a 44-31 lead at halftime. Tucker had back-to-back baskets to give Indiana a 24-22 lead with 9:52 to go, and the Hoosiers never trailed again.
Myles Rice and Reneau had the first two baskets of the second half, pushing Indiana’s lead to 17. Carlyle’s three-point play gave the Hoosiers their largest lead at 68-47 with 9:46 to play. Minnesota didn’t get closer than 12 from there.
Indiana defeated the Golden Gophers for the ninth straight time overall and for the ninth straight time at home. The Hoosiers lead the all-time series 110-69.
Indiana travels to play Nebraska on Friday. Minnesota returns home to play Fairleigh Dickinson on December 21.
