Quick Reaction: Indiana men’s basketball beats Minnesota 77-47

Indiana men’s basketball got back in the win column in convincing fashion tonight, dominating Minnesota 77-47 for the Hoosiers’ first win since early February. It was a revenge win, a rejuvenating win, and potentially a win that revived Indiana’s NCAA Tournament hopes with just one regular season game to play.

The Hoosiers came out looking like a desperate team tonight, getting out to a 20-6 lead in the early minutes, led by Sam Alexis, who had nine of those first 20 points. He finished with a season-high 23 points, to go along with nine rebounds and two blocks. He led or tied for the team high in all three categories.

Things got tense in Assembly Hall when the Golden Gophers went on a run of their own, bringing it within one possession at 19-22 with 8:45 left in the half. Unlike the Northwestern game, though, Indiana was able to stop the bleeding and answer with more points on the offensive end.

After Cade Tyson’s free-throw cut it to a three-point game, Darian DeVries went right back to Alexis, who made another layup to give Indiana some breathing room. The Hoosiers got another stop and DeVries got Alexis a look again, putting the Hoosiers up by seven.

17 of Alexis’ 23 points came in the first half, as Indiana kept taking the easy points in the paint against zone and man looks from Minnesota. The Hoosiers really shined on the defensive end to close out the half though, allowing just nine points in the final nine minutes after allowing Minnesota’s first and only run.

That defensive effort set the tone for the second half, when Indiana held Minnesota to just 19 points. Crucially, the Hoosiers also out-rebounded the Gophers 21-9 over the final 20 minutes.

Overall, Indiana got the win it needed tonight, by a margin big enough to inspire confidence in the remaining games, all of which the Hoosiers likely need to win to keep an NCAA Tournament dream alive.