Despite missing much of the first half getting stitches in his right eyelid, Samet Yigitoglu scored a game-high 18 points as Indiana pulled away in the second half for a 90-66 nonconference victory over Tennessee Tech on Thursday night in Bloomington, Ind.
The 7-foot-2 Yigitoglu dominated the smaller Golden Eagles by shooting 9-for-10 from the floor in his 17 minutes. Bryce Lindsay added 15 points off the bench for the Hoosiers (4-0), who transformed a four-point halftime lead into a blowout. Aiden Sherrell notched 11 points and a game-high eight rebounds.
Caleb Sanders recorded 16 points and seven rebounds before fouling out for the Golden Eagles (2-2), who committed 28 fouls that enabled the Hoosiers to go 26-for-36 at the line. Tennessee Tech entered the night averaging 100.7 points per game, but Indiana limited the visitors to 34.3% shooting from the field.
Indiana set up Yigitoglu exclusively early on. With Tennessee Tech choosing not to double him in the post, Yigitoglu scored on the Hoosiers’ first three possessions for a 6-0 lead.
When Indiana fed Yigitoglu on its fourth possession, though, Sanders swiped at the ball and wound up drawing blood from Yigitoglu’s right eyelid. The SMU transfer was escorted to the locker room at the 17:18 mark of the first half to get stitches.
His absence slowed Indiana’s offense and enabled Tennessee Tech to stay within striking range. When Cbo Newton and Sanders flushed back-to-back 3-pointers, they gave the Golden Eagles a 13-12 lead with 12:10 on the clock.
Freshman Trevor Manhertz (10 points) stepped forward by slashing along the baseline for a thunderous dunk, then accepting a pass from Markus Burton in the corner on the next possession and swishing a 3-pointer while getting fouled. His accompanying free throw gave Indiana an 18-13 lead.
Shortly thereafter, Manhertz headed to the locker room after tweaking his left ankle on defense.
De’Ante Green, Tennessee Tech’s tallest player at 6-foot-9, went out with his third foul with 7:14 left in the half. Yigitoglu returned to the game at the same moment with Indiana clinging to a 25-23 lead.
Manhertz rejoined the fray at the 5:00 mark with the Hoosiers holding a 34-24 lead thanks to 3-pointers by Lindsay and Sherrell. Manhertz limped back into the locker room after re-injuring his ankle with 2:10 to go in the half.
Despite committing 17 first-half fouls, Tennessee Tech clung within 41-37 at the break as Sanders posted a game-high 14 points.
Indiana asserted control early in the second half. Burton and Darren Harris opened the half with their first points of the game, then Yigitoglu contributed a layup and a dunk.
When Lindsay swished his second 3-pointer of the half at the 13:01 mark, he gave the Hoosiers a 62-46 lead that grew as large as 29 points down the stretch.