Indiana All-Stars put it all together to sweep Kentucky, win for 45th time in past 52 games

Indianapolis Star

5 hours ago

INDIANAPOLIS – It happened quick. A Michael Cooper 3-pointer. A Mark Zackery IV layup. A Braylon Mullins' 3-pointer off a between-the-legs assist from Zackery.
Just like that, the 2025 graduating class put its stamp — more of an exclamation point — on its senior season in the Indiana All-Stars' annual series against the Kentucky All-Stars. The All-Stars rolled to a 106-92 win Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in front of 5,411 fans to put the wraps on Indiana's 45th win in the past 52 games against Kentucky since 1999.
Mullins, IndyStar Mr. Basketball who will have his graduation party Sunday and then leave for UConn on Monday, led the All-Stars with 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to earn MVP honors.
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'You can't really say we didn't play great,' Mullins said. 'We all played together and had fun tonight. You can't do anything better than playing on Gainbridge (Fieldhouse) floor. It certainly helped that Malachi (Moreno) wasn't on the floor because there was a lot more opening up. But we all played great together.'
Kentucky was playing without Moreno, its Mr. Basketball. The 7-1 star center who went for 22 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots in Friday night's game at Lexington Catholic High School — a hard-fought 98-89 Indiana win — stayed back in Lexington as he gets started with his college career at Kentucky.
But regardless of Moreno's presence, it was just a cleaner, crisper Indiana team on Saturday. A big reason for that, among several factors, was the play of point guard Mark Zackery IV of Ben Davis, who finished with 10 points on 2-for-4 shooting from the 3-point line, along with six assists and five steals. Zackery, a Notre Dame football recruit, seemed to shake the rust off after playing just two games during the season due to surgery on his thumb.
'Those first two games were kind of like preseason games for me,' Zackery said of the game vs. the Junior All-Stars on Wednesday and at Kentucky on Friday. 'Tonight I felt like I came out and did what I was supposed to do and had a couple boards, had a couple assists, got my 10 points and we got the win, so it was a good night.'
The Indiana All-Stars took command with a 13-0 run at the end of the first half, going into halftime with a 50-32 lead. The game was essentially over at that point, though a couple of Brady Koehler-to-Justin Kirby alley-oops — the second bounced off the floor to a waiting Kirby — certainly sealed the deal. Indiana led by as many as 32 points midway through the second half.
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'It was definitely fun to end it that way, especially catching all those lobs,' said Kirby, who finished with 11 points and four rebounds. 'Playing with some of my favorite guys in my last high school game, I just had a great time playing with them. I wish the best for all of them.'
Lawrence North's Azavier Robinson, a Butler recruit, was named the Wooden-MCL Citizenship award winner.
Others in double-figure scoring for the Indiana All-Stars were Jeffersonville's Tre Singleton (12 points, six rebounds), Cathedral's Koehler (12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three steals) and Jeffersonville guard Michael Cooper (10 points).
It was the first sweep of Kentucky since 2022. Crispus Attucks' Dezmon Briscoe swept the floor as the buzzer sounded to celebrate the feat. Kentucky was led by 18 points from East Tennessee State recruit Maddox Huff.
'Give these guys credit because they really worked all week,' Urban said. 'We had a great practice Thursday and a really good film session. I felt they were really loose but they were a fun group and really connected and when it was time to lace them up and go play, they did a really good job. They were a super fun group to be around.'
And just like that, as each of Indiana All-Stars departed Gainbridge Fieldhouse, it was off to a new and much different chapter of the lives. Zackery IV reports to Notre Dame on Sunday. Kirby leaves for Miami of Ohio in a week. Mullins to UConn. Koehler to Notre Dame. Robinson is already moved into Butler.
After several nights at Marian University, Mullins said he was ready for a good night's sleep in his own bed.
'(This week) was kind of preparation for college,' Mullins said. 'I got to room with a couple roommates (Koehler was his roommate and Zackery and Robinson were in the adjoining room), so we got a little taste of that and we were all able to hang out all week. I enjoyed it. But I do miss my bed.'