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Indiana marked its return to the NCAA Tournament with one of its best offensive performances of the season, and never trailed against New Mexico State, winning 79-66. Indiana's offensive efficiency of 1.23 points per possession was the eight best of the season and IU's effective field goal percentage of 65.7 was the third best of the season. Much as in the Michigan State win of a couple of weeks ago, IU neutralized NMSU's typical advantage on the boards (IU had an offensive rebound percentage of 30 compared to 33 for NMSU) and outplayed the Aggies in every other aspect. The biggest red flag was NMSU's 55 percent shooting, but IU shot 59 percent from the field, and forced the Aggies into 17 turnovers (26.7 percent) to IU's 12 (18.8 percent). The Hoosiers excelled from behind the arc, shooting 7-13 from deep, thanks mostly to 4-6 from Jordan Hulls. Both teams were 8-10 from the line.
The starters carried IU offensively:
- Hulls scored a game-high 22 points on 8-12 from the field, including the aforementioned three point shooting. He scored 19 in the second half and missed only one shot during the half.
- Christian Watford scored 14 on 6-11 shooting and 2-2 from three point range.
- Cody Zeller also added 14 and led the team with 4 assists and 6 steals. He struggled early against NMSU's big interior players but managed to figure it out as the game transpired.
- Will Sheehey had a quiet 14 on 7-11 shooting.