Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis slams down a dunk in the second half of the Hoosiers’ season-opening 68-62 win over Eastern Michigan University on Tuesday, November 9, 2022. Photo by Rodney Margison

by RODNEY MARGISON

Before a loud, live crowd reported to be 17,222 strong at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, the Coach Mike Woodson era at Indiana University started with a 68-62 win over Eastern Michigan Tuesday night, November 10.

“It’s good to be back home,” Woodson said after the contest. “The fan base here is like no other fan base. … [But] this is not about me, man. This is about 17 guys that are wearing this uniform that we’re trying to get … back on top and teach them how to win basketball games.”

Indiana led by Trayce Jackson-Davis, who scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Xavier Johnson added 14 points and Race Thompson had 10 boards in a game in which all nine Hoosiers who played scored at least 2 points.

Indiana led by as many as 21 points early in the second half, but let that dwindle to 1 with 2:40 left to play. “I thought when we built the lead, we stopped playing the way we got the lead,” Woodson said. “We have got to go back and break this film down and talk about how we built the lead and how we can extend the lead going forward, because I didn’t think we handled that part of it very well tonight.”

The Hoosiers return to action Friday night, November 12, against Northern Illinois. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Assembly Hall.

PHOTO GALLERY

Photography by Rodney Margison

Trayce Jackson-Davis, 23, shoots over Eastern Michigan’s Axel Okongo, 15.
Miller Kopp.
Parker Stewart.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, 23, battles for a rebound against Axel Okongo.
Xavier Johnson, 0, and Noah Farrakhan, 5.
Race Thompson.
Rob Phinisee, 1, and Thomas Binelli, 23.
IU head coach Mike Woodson and Jordan Geronimo, 22.
Tamar Bates, 53.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, 23, and Jordan Geronimo.
Tamar Bates.
Jordan Geronimo, 22, and Colin Golson, 1..
Indiana’s Rob Phinisee puts up a shot over Colin Golson of Eastern Michigan.
Race Thompson, 23, and Colin Golson, 1.
Tamar Bates, 53.
Trey Galloway, 32.
Rob Phinisee.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, 23, shoots over Axel Okongo.
Xavier Johnson, 0, and Noah Farrakhan, 5.
Indiana’s Trayce Jackson-Davis and Thomas Binelli of Eastern Michigan.
Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Xavier Johnson, 0; Bryce McBride, 4; and Nate Scott, 25.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, 23, blocks a shot by Colin Golson, 1.
Indiana Coach Mike Woodson.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, 23, and Colin Golson, 1.
Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Indiana Coach Mike Woodson and assistant coach Dane Fife, seated.
Indiana Coach Mike Woodson and Rob Phinisee, 1.
Tamar Bates, 53, and Darion Spottsville, 10.
Tamar Bates, 53, and Nate Scott, 25.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, 23, and Colin Golson, 1.
Rob Phinisee, 1, and Nate Scott, 25.
Noah Farrakhan, 5, and Race Thompson, 25.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, 23, and Nate Scott, 25.