LIVE BLOG: Follow Indiana's Season Opener Against Florida Gulf Coast

Indiana begins the 2023-24 regular season Tuesday night against Florida Gulf Coast at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Welcome to our live blog, where we'll keep you updated with all the news and views in real time, with opinion and highlights thrown in as well.

Jack Ankony | Nov 7, 2023

LIVE BLOG: Follow Indiana's Season Opener Against Florida Gulf Coast /

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – After two exhibition games, it's time for the real thing.

Indiana officially opens the 2023-24 season against Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday night at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Welcome to our live blog, where we'll keep you updated with all the news and views in real time, with opinion and highlights thrown in as well.

8:37 p.m. – Final: IU 69, FGCU 63. FGCU pushed IU to the limit, but the Hoosiers' 14-0 run from 10:35 to 6:50 in the second half gave them enough cushion to withstand some mistakes at the end. IU is 1-0 to start the year.

8:35 p.m. – Ware grabs his 12th rebound of the game off a missed three from FGCU, and that should officially do it after IU almost blew a 10-point lead with 1:28 left. Ware goes 1-for-2 at the line. IU leads 69-63.

8:33 p.m. – FGCU got a really clean look at a three, which would have tied the game. Johnson goes 2-for-2 this time, giving IU a 68-63 lead with 16.8 left.

8:31 p.m. – Reneau missed the front end of the one-and-one and FGCU responds with a layup, trimming IU's lead to two points. Johnson goes 1-for-2 at the line, so IU leads 66-63 with 28.2 left

8:30 p.m. – Reneau threw it away on an inbounds pass with FGCU pressing, and Anderson knocks down another three. Cupps turned it over on the next possession, and Indiana catches a break with a missed three from FGCU on a pretty good look. FGCU will play the foul game now, as IU leads 65-61 with 43.4 remaining. Reneau at the line.

8:28 p.m. – It looked like Galloway might have bobbled the ball, but he was able to spin it off the backboard for a reverse layup. But immediately after, like they've done all night, Anderson knocks down a three for FGCU. IU leads 65-58 with 1:09 remaining. FGCU is now 12-for-29 from three, compared to 4-for-13 from IU.

8:24 p.m. – FGCU refuses to go away, answering the Cupps three with a three from Johnston. Indiana has some things to clean up with its 3-point defensive coverages. Hoosiers lead 63-55 with 3:04 to play.

8:21 p.m. – Cupps denied a screen then pulled a quick-trigger three, his first as a Hoosier. That gives IU its biggest lead of the game at 61-50.

8:19 p.m. – After a missed Cupps three, Ware snatched a big offensive rebound, then got fouled on the put-back. He made both free throws. Ware is putting together a really nice game.

8:17 p.m. – A tough fadeaway jumper from Dallion Johnson keeps FGCU in this one, trailing 56-50 with 5:31 left in the game. The Penn State transfer has 17 points on 6-for-12 shooting.

8:15 p.m. – Kel'el Ware putting together a strong overall game – he's up to 10 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. Made a 3 and also had the steal that started this 12-0 Indiana run. FGCU in some foul trouble now. Weir has four, and starters Kellman and Largie both have three.

8:11 p.m. – IU goes on a quick 10-0 run in just under two minutes, jumping out to a 52-48 lead with 8:30 remaining. It started with Ware's steal and assist to Johnson, then Johnson knocked in Indiana's first 3-pointer of the half from the top of the key.

8:06 p.m. – Ware and Galloway set up a sturdy trap near the sideline, and Ware ripped it away, then passed it up ahead to Johnson for an easy transition layup. Johnson stepped up for a clear charge on the next possession, and the crowd is really starting to get into it now. IU still trails, though, 48-47.

8:05 p.m. – Strong move inside from Reneau, driving to the middle with his left, then spinning back to his right. He's left-handed. Finished through a foul, then sinks his free throw. IU trailing by three now, and Assembly Hall is getting loud.

8:03 p.m. – FGCU now has its biggest lead of the game, 48-42, with 10:43 left in the game after another Dallion Johnson 3-pointer. IU's defense just does not seem to be in sync when it comes to defending the 3-point line. Hoosiers had some trouble in the first half against Marian in that regard.

7:57 p.m. – After a Galloway floater, FGCU retakes the lead with a three from Dallion Johnson at the top of the key. He's now 4-for-9 from three tonight. IU trailing 43-42 with 12 minutes left.

7:55 p.m. – FGCU ties it up at 40-40 with a corner 3-pointer from Zach Anderson, who's now 3-for-5 from three. Eagles now 8-for-20 from three, compared to 2-for-7 from Indiana. Neither team shooting well from the free throw line, with FGCU at 2-for-6 and Indiana 10-for-18. 13:35 left in the game.

7:49 p.m. – Reneau also just picked up his third foul, so we'll see a lot of Anthony Walker in the second half. Keep in mind, Payton Sparks remains out with a lower body injury.

7:46 p.m. – Ware continuing to show off his wide range of skills, making a crisp pass inside to Reneau, who finished a reverse layup with his left hand. Mgbako blocked a shot on the following possession, but it went right to an FGCU player for a layup. Indiana answers with another assist from Ware, this time to a cutting Galloway. Assembly Hall on its feet, as Indiana leads 36-33 with just over 16 minutes left.

7:41 p.m. – FGCU throws the ball out of bounds on its first possession, and Reneau finishes a strong drive to the basket. FGCU answers with a 3-pointer from Chase Johnston.

7:40 p.m. – FGCU starting the second half with the ball. As always, the first five minutes will be important for IU to take control of this game.

7:33 p.m. – As for individual stats, Kel'el Ware leads Indiana with 8 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks. Galloway has six points, followed by Johnson and Reneau with four apiece. Dallion Johnson leads Penn State with nine points on 3-for-7 3-point shooting.

7:30 p.m. – Some halftime stats: Indiana shot 8-for-20 overall, 2-for-7 from three, and 10-for-18 from the free throw line. Indiana has six turnovers and four fouls, two on Reneau. FGCU shot 10-for-32 overall, 5-for-16 from three and 1-for-4 from the free throw line. Eagles have 15 fouls and six turnovers. FGCU has just two more rebounds than Indiana overall, but an 8-3 advantage in offensive rebounds, leading to eight second-chance points.

7:24 p.m. – IU leads Florida Gulf Coast 28-26 at the half.

7:23 p.m. – Woodson gets a timeout with 36.4 left in the first half. No field goals for IU in the last 3:25.

7:21 p.m. – Johnson goes 0-for-2 at the line, and FGCU takes its first lead since 16:15. Hoosiers answer right back with two free throws from Anthony Walker, putting IU ahead 27-26 with a minute left. FGCU up to 14 fouls already.

7:13 p.m. – Assembly Hall gets as loud as its been all night after Ware knocks down a three from the left wing, stretching IU's lead to 25-21. It was created by a crafty drive from Trey Galloway, who collapsed the defense. Ware attempted another three from a similar spot on the next possession, but missed.

7:10 p.m. – IU went about seven and a half minutes without a field goal, but the Hoosiers kept getting fouled so the lack of field goals didn't really impact the game. In fact, IU stretched its lead from five to six points in that time. Hoosiers are 7-for-12 from the free throw line.

7:08 p.m – Kel'el Ware swats his third block of the night, which acted as a chest pass to someone sitting in the third row. After FGCU's 12th foul of the half, Reneau goes 0-for-2 at the line, but IU leads to 20-16 with 6:09 left.

7:05 p.m. – Mgbako checking back in for Cupps, who gave IU some solid minutes off the bench. It was also a chance for Woodson to experiment with the three-guard lineup, with Cupps, Johnson and Galloway, which he's said he wants to use more of going forward. After FGCU's 11th foul Ware goes 1-for-2 at the line, pushing IU's lead to 20-16 with 6:48 left in the half.

7:00 p.m. – IU clings to a 17-15 lead at the under-8 timeout. The Hoosiers are 0-for-5 shooting in the last 5:11. FGCU has five offensive rebounds to IU's two. IU has also turned the ball over five times, leading to six FGCU points.

6:55 p.m. – Dallion Johnson is now 2-for-3 from 3-point range, trimming Indiana's lead to 15-13. The Eagles are being very physical and aggressive on defense, already picking up eight fouls.

6:52 p.m. – Cupps goes 2-for-2 at the free throw line for his first points as a Hoosier, not counting exhibition games. On the next possession, Cupps continues to show he's capable of defending at the college level despite being just a freshman.

6:49 p.m. – IU leads 13-10 at the under-12 timeout. The last few possessions ended in what looked like a couple forced shots from Mgbako and Gunn. IU could have worked the ball more and gotten better looks. FGCU is already up to six fouls, with two on starter Keeshawn Kellman, so that's something to keep an eye on. IU already has four turnovers today after just two against Marian. Hoosiers 6-for-10 shooting early on and 1-for-3 from three.

6:45 p.m. – It looked like Johnson was going to dish it to Reneau in transition, but he fooled the FGCU defense and took it on his own, with a nice finish. CJ Gunn and Gabe Cupps in now, replacing Johnson and Galloway as IU leads 13-8 with 12:50 left in the half.

6:43 p.m. – A well-executed play from Indiana frees Mgbako for a turnaround mid-range jumper. And Ware swats another massive block on the next possession, his second of the game. Anthony Walker is the first Hoosier off the bench, replacing Ware. IU leads 11-8.

6:39 p.m. – Galloway knocks in a deep three without much hesitation. On the next possession, FGCU was called for a moving screen. Johnson and Galloway have been really aggressive on the ball tonight, as expected. Indiana leads 9-8 at the under-16 timeout, with Galloway leading IU with five points.

6:37 p.m. – Officials for tonight: D.J. Carstensen, Shane Staggs, Chad Barlow.

6:34 p.m. – Ware comes over to help and gets a MASSIVE block, which got the Indiana crowd excited. FGCU answered with a 3-pointer from Chase Johnston right after. IU leads 4-3.

6:32 p.m. – Xavier Johnson missed a good look at a mid-range jumper on the first possession, but he found Kel'el Ware in transition after a defensive stop, who was fouled. They called it on the ground, so Indiana drew up a nice out of bounds play, leading to a Galloway layup. IU leads 2-0 to start.

6:30 p.m. – Kel'el Ware wins the tip and we're under way.

6:26 p.m. – Indiana just honored several members of Bill Garrett's family at halfcourt before the national anthem. Here's the video.

6:20 p.m. – Isaiah Thompson – FGCU's leading scorer last season – just walked out in sweats and a hoodie during layup lines. Looks like he won't play. That's obviously a big loss for the Eagles, who enter the game as 11.5-point underdogs.

6:16 p.m. – Same starters as the exhibition games for Indiana: Xavier Johnson, Trey Galloway, Mackenzie Mgabko, Malik Reneau and Kel'el Ware. For FGCU, it's Chase Johnston, Cyrus Largie, Franco Miller Jr., Zach Anderson and Keeshawn Kellman.

6:05 p.m. – Indiana is calling tonight's matchup between Indiana and Florida Gulf Coast, "The Bill Garrett Game" to recognize the 75th anniversary of the season when Garrett broke Big Ten Basketball’s unofficial color barrier. Indiana has special game programs tonight. Here they are:

Here’s a look at the program cover for tonight’s season opener, “The Bill Garrett Game.” #iubb pic.twitter.com/m2I7TP0FQ9
— Jack Ankony (@ankony_jack) November 7, 2023

5:45 p.m. – Payton Sparks was listed questionable, but he's not in uniform for pregame warmups. Certainly looks like he won't play. Freshman guard Jakai Newton and redshirt freshman walk-on guard Jordan Rayford are listed as inactive.

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