The Hoosiers did not recover from the shock of a five-player suspension at Evanston on Tuesday night.
Northwestern (12-10, 5-8 Big Ten) beat Indiana (16-7, 7-6 Big Ten) with a score of 59-51 at the Welsh-Ryan Arena on Tuesday night.
According to Indiana head coach Mike Woodson, the Hoosiers played without five players, all of whom have been suspended for violating team rules. Details of the breaches have not been disclosed.
The five players include guards Xavier Johnson, Parker Stewart, Christian Lander and Tamar Bates and center Michael Durr. Johnson and Stewart have started 22 and 21 games out of 23, respectively.
"He broke the rules and he was punished for it," Woodson told the media after the game. "If we're going to be a team, and you set rules that people have to follow as a team, that's what you have to do... It doesn't start on the floor. You have to do it all off the floor." Necessary things too."
Guards Anthony Leal and Trey Galloway stepped into the opening roles with Miller Cope, Trace Jackson-Davis, and Race Thompson.
Suspended players were dressed and warmed up before the game. Northwestern head coach Chris Collins said Northwestern did not know about the suspension until moments before tipoff.
"Obviously they didn't have some of their best people," Collins said after the game. "They still had a lot of great guys... They fought. They made it hard for us to win tonight."
Sophomore guard Trey Galloway made a massive move for the Hoosiers, scoring 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists before being fouled out on his thirteenth start of the season.
"Trey Galloway played his butt," Woodson said. "I think everyone who played tonight played very well. Unfortunately, his teammates let him down."
Northwestern head coach Chris Collins praised Galloway's game after the game.
"Galloway got down on us," Collins said.
As for the handful of suspended players, Woodson said he did not know how long the sentence would last.
Woodson said, "I want to be with players who proudly wear uniforms and do all the essentials on and off the court. I don't know if it's a game thing or not. I'm on my way home tonight." I have to decide."
"I'm very disappointed because I'm all about the team," Woodson said.