Indiana men’s and women’s basketball appeared in front of the public for the first time this season in their annual Hoosier Hysteria event Friday night at Assembly Hall. The teams competed in a skills challenge, 3-point shootout and knockout contest. Here are three key moments from the event.
Yarden Garzon lights up 3-point contest and wins knockout game
Women’s basketball sophomore forward Yarden Garzon put on a clinic in both shooting events. From Ra’anana, Israel, and sporting her home country’s flag in her intro, Garzon shot 19-of-25 in a team 3-point contest. Her 19 triples tied the event’s high mark and helped lead her team to a win alongside men’s senior guard Trey Galloway, who knocked down 11 threes.
In the following event, Garzon outlasted several men’s and women’s team members — and some students — to prevail in the knockout shootout. She ultimately topped men’s senior forward Anthony Walker with a walk-off three.
Anthony Leal sinks miracle shot
Friday night’s opening activity was a two-player skills challenge which required dribbling around obstacles, making a pass through a ring, running downcourt to make a layup and then finishing on the opposite end again with a 3-pointer. Men’s senior guard Anthony Leal provided a moment that sent eruptions through Assembly Hall.
Leal was playing catchup to freshman guard Gabe Cupps, and with the match on the line, the senior decided to heave a shot from the opposite free throw line. Leal found nothing but net to seal the win in the semi-finals and was immediately mobbed by his teammates. He later drained another three to win in the final round.
Newcomers show off
Several of Indiana’s newcomers for both teams showed out in their first appearance in an Indiana jersey.
Cupps tied Garzon’s mark of 19-of-25 in the 3-point contest, giving an early taste of his shooting capabilities to Hoosier fans. Fellow freshman Mackenzie Mgbako made 15-of-25 in the same event.
Women’s freshman guard Jules LaMendola and men’s sophomore center Kel’el Ware each flashed moments in the skills challenge as well, with LaMendola sinking a three and Ware soaring for an easy dunk.
Hoosier Hysteria was the last public appearance for both teams before they play a game. The men’s team will play its first exhibition game against the University of Indianapolis at 1 p.m. Oct. 29 in Assembly Hall. The women’s team plays its sole exhibition game at 7 p.m. Nov. 1 at home.