By ANDY PROFFET
ISL Correspondent 

BLOOMINGTON — Facing an offense like Indiana’s, teams like Eastern Illinois have to take advantage of every opportunity.

A simple equation: no offensive rebounds means no second chances means no shot at pulling an upset.

No. 15 Indiana opened the season with an 88-49 win over the Panthers Friday night, thanks, in part, to holding EIU without an offensive rebound in the first half.

“We had a lot of guys crash the glass at all times. If it wasn’t the 4 or 5 getting it, Yogi was in there getting a hand on it so someone else could get it. It was a really fun team effort,” senior Michigan transfer Max Bielfeldt said.

The Hoosiers out-rebounded the Panthers 51-17 for the game. Five Hoosiers, led by freshman Thomas Bryant, contributed at least seven rebounds.

Senior point guard Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell and sophomore guard James Blackmon Jr. each had seven boards, helping Indiana cruise to the win.

A 21-1 run to close the first half sent IU into the break with a 49-17 lead.

“It was just, the whole energy of the place picked up,” Bielfeldt said. “We got a couple offensive rebounds, we got some big plays by a lot of guys, just kind of built on one thing to the next.”

The run helped erase the frustration of a stretch where both teams battled foul trouble, adjusting to the new defensive contact rules.

“They called it a little tighter the first few games and lightened up last year,” Bielfeldt said. “When we were in practice, we adjusted. There were some days we practiced being a little bit more physical with the defense, there were some days we practiced for (the way it was called tonight). … I think we were well-prepared for that.”

Blackmon led six Hoosiers in double figures with 17 points. A.J. Riley scored 13 to lead the Panthers.

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