— In an impressive performance, Mackenzie Mgbako scored 18 points while teammates Oumar Ballo and Malik Reneau added 17 each, leading the No. 17 Indiana Hoosiers to a decisive 90-55 victory over Eastern Illinois on Sunday.

The Hoosiers, now with a record of 2-0, initially found themselves trailing the Panthers by five points, but they soared to prominence with a remarkable 24-2 run early in the second half. Mgbako, Ballo, and Reneau were effective on the court, successfully executing 23 out of 32 shots collectively and contributing 22 rebounds to their team’s performance. In a dominant second half, Indiana outscored their opponents 54-18, showcasing their offensive prowess.

For Eastern Illinois, Nakyel Shelton was the standout player, leading his team with 17 points. The Panthers had a promising start, hitting five 3-pointers that allowed them to secure a one-point lead at halftime. However, their shooting efforts faltered in the second half, as they converted only 2 of their 10 attempts from beyond the arc.

The game revealed some crucial insights. For Eastern Illinois, the earlier moments indicated they could be a formidable underdog, but the team’s performance fell short as they struggled significantly in the second half. This downward trend echoes their season opener, where they faced a 45-point loss against No. 24 Illinois.

On Indiana’s side, despite achieving another comfortable victory against a lesser opponent, there were notable concerns regarding their defense against 3-point shots early in the game. The Hoosiers didn’t really gain control until a few minutes had passed in the second half, indicating that fans have higher expectations for their performance moving forward.

A pivotal moment came early in the second half when Indiana, trailing by five points, ignited an 11-0 run, with Mgbako and Reneau contributing nine of those points, highlighted by a couple of impressive dunks.

One of the standout statistics of the game showed how crucial the Hoosiers’ run was: during their 24-2 streak, they successfully made 9 of their 14 shot attempts, while the Panthers struggled with only one basket and ten missed shots.

Looking ahead, the Panthers will face Northwestern on Friday, while the Hoosiers will host South Carolina on Saturday, promising more thrilling basketball action in the days to come.