Indiana men’s basketball beats Syracuse 83-80

On November 5, 2026, the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team secured a narrow 83-80 victory over Syracuse in Indianapolis, Indiana, thus maintaining their flawless season record. This contest marked a departure from the team's previously effortless first two games. In the first half, Indiana struggled to score, going almost three minutes before registering its first points.

Despite possessing a roster with considerable size, the Hoosiers found it challenging to capitalize on their physical advantages, converting a significant number of opportunities into baskets.

The team's offseason acquisitions, spearheaded by head coach Darian DeVries, appeared to be a mixed bag in terms of immediate impact. While Samet Yigitoglu, the only seven-footer among the starters, managed to contribute with eight points, Aiden Sherrell's six points came from beyond the arc. The frontcourt, seemingly the team's weakest link, failed to deliver the expected interior scoring.

However, in what proved to be a pivotal aspect of the game, Indiana's backcourt stepped up to the plate. Jaeden Mustaf and Markus Burton, each logging 20 points, played crucial roles in leading the charge. Their contributions were bolstered by the guards' ability to create scoring opportunities for themselves and secure crucial free throws when the shooting opportunities were not falling.

Harris' remarkable 10-10 performance from the charity stripe was a testament to the team's resilience, even when struggling to find scoring consistency.

Despite not matching the scoring expectations set by their offensive prowess, Indiana's defensive efforts were noteworthy. They out-rebounded Syracuse 37-28, securing 14 offensive rebounds, which translated into an extra 7 field goal attempts that proved to be decisive in the closely contested game. The match was marked by sloppiness on both ends of the court, and both teams are likely to look to leave this one behind. This marked the first time since 1987 that Indiana men's basketball managed to overcome Syracuse.