BLOOMINGTON, IND. – Gophers coach Ben Johnson and Indiana’s Mike Woodson were equally frustrated with the lack of defense to start Monday at Assembly Hall. Both teams shot over 70% from the field midway through the first half.
That wasn’t a pace the worst scoring team in the Big Ten could keep up, especially in one of the most hostile environments in college hoops.
After seven lead changes in the first 10 minutes, the Gophers went scoreless from the field for over seven minutes to fall into a hole they couldn’t climb from in a 82-67 loss against the Hoosiers.
The Gophers (6-5, 0-2 Big Ten) dropped their ninth straight game against Indiana, the longest current losing streak against any Big Ten opponent. They also haven’t won in Bloomington, Ind. since 2012.
Dawson Garcia, who finished with 22 points, scored half of his team’s points early when the Gophers led by as much as five points after an 8-1 run. This was a Minnesota team that averaged a Big Ten-low 65.2 points.
After taking a 22-20 advantage, the Gophers would suffer through a dry spell and fail to score another field goal until just under four minutes left in the half. They were outscored 16-1 during one stretch to trail 44-31 at halftime.
The Hoosiers (8-2, 1-0), who shot 57 percent for the game, had five players in double figures with 7-foot Oumar Ballo, 6-9 Malik Reneau and 6-9 Mackenzie Mgbako combining for 47 points and 17 rebounds.
Defense was something the Gophers took pride in for the first month of the season, but they’ve fallen apart on that side of the ball in early conference play. Michigan State was the first opponent to shoot over 50% against Minnesota and scored 27 transition points in a 90-72 loss at Williams Arena last Wednesday.
