Freshmen Prince-Alexander Moody and Vaughn Karvala sparked a late-game surge that carried the Indiana Hoosiers to a 79-74 victory over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers during a preseason exhibition game on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana, the IndyStar reported.
Freshmen Deliver Decisive Minutes in Evansville
Head coach Darian DeVries turned to his first-years down the stretch, pairing Moody and Karvala with Bryce Lindsay, Aiden Sherrell, and Trent Sisley. Karvala recorded a crucial blocked shot in the closing minutes, while Moody ignited the offense to help erase a second-half deficit. Moody finished with six points and two assists off the bench, including a corner 3-pointer that tied the game late in the second half.
Indiana trailed for nearly 17 minutes of the contest as Western Kentucky applied aggressive halfcourt defensive pressure. The Hilltoppers converted 12 Hoosier turnovers into 18 points and held a 22-14 advantage in paint scoring. However, a 7-0 run late in the game pushed Indiana ahead for good.
Bryce Lindsay Leads Balanced Hoosier Scoring
Bryce Lindsay led the Hoosiers with 18 points, anchoring an offense that relied heavily on perimeter shooting and frontcourt passing. Lindsay hit a contested game-tying 3-pointer with 3:34 remaining to knot the score at 68-68 before scoring on a coast-to-coast drive during the decisive 7-0 run.
Indiana basketball concludes its exhibition schedule against Western Kentucky: Start time, how to watch. https://t.co/kE8tkAwTcf
Indiana showcased its imposing frontcourt size with 7-foot-2 Samet Yigitoglu and 6-11 Aiden Sherrell anchoring the paint. Yigitoglu contributed heavily as a facilitator, assisting on four of Indiana’s first 11 field goals by finding Sam Alexis out of double teams for dunks. Yigitoglu finished the game with four rebounds, four assists, two blocked shots, and two steals.
Early Injury Concerns for Markus Burton
Point guard Markus Burton briefly left the lineup after slipping to the floor at the 18:38 mark of the first half. Burton landed on the court and immediately signaled to the bench while holding his right hand before being attended to by medical staff. He returned to the lineup at the 15:22 mark of the first half.
The game also featured a momentum-shifting technical foul called against Trevor Manhertz after a replay review in the first half. That whistle sparked a 12-0 run for Western Kentucky, which built a 28-20 lead before Indiana answered with a late-half push capped by a buzzer-beater from Western Kentucky’s Teagan Moore.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Hoosiers
When is Indiana’s next basketball game?
The Hoosiers open their regular season against Eastern Illinois on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET.
Where was the game against Western Kentucky played?
The preseason exhibition matchup took place at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
How much did Indiana spend on its roster?
According to a CBS breakdown cited by the IndyStar, Indiana ranks among the top 15 Power Four men’s basketball programs in roster spending.
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