Indiana Rallies Past Syracuse as DeVries Praises Composure

Indiana overcame a five-point deficit late in Monday night’s game to beat Syracuse, giving the Hoosiers an early-season test of their ability to handle pressure. Coach Darian DeVries said the team stayed composed and focused on the next possession rather than dwelling on mistakes. He said Indiana made key shots and executed well late in the game, situations that are hard to recreate in practice.

Jaeden Mustaf led Indiana with 18 points. DeVries also highlighted his rebounding, physical play and defensive flexibility, calling him the team’s best player that night. Mustaf’s contributions beyond scoring, particularly on defense, help explain his place in the starting lineup, DeVries said.

Darren Harris has now scored 20 points in consecutive games after a slow start to the season. DeVries said Harris’s shooting draws defensive attention and creates openings for teammates. Late against Syracuse, Harris passed up a shot and sent the ball to Markus Burton in the corner, where he made a three-pointer.

Indiana collected 14 offensive rebounds and finished with a nine-rebound advantage over Syracuse. DeVries said rebounding was becoming part of the team’s identity, but was more urgent about the defense, which he said needed to improve quickly.

Asked about adding a coach’s challenge system like the NBA’s, DeVries joked that he would support it if it helped Indiana. He also recognized the difficulty of officiating and said extra chances to review questionable calls late in games could be useful, after a disputed late call had hurt the Hoosiers.