Saturday, December 8
Bloomington, Ind.
2:30 PM
Indiana University
68
vs
67
Louisville
1
2
F
Louisville
33
34
67
Indiana
28
40
68
Crunch-Time Tough -- Indiana Holds Off Louisville
12/8/2018 4:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio, IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- If you love cliffhanger victories and NCAA tourney resume builders, Indiana is must-see basketball.
Case in point -- Saturday's 68-67 win over Louisville.
That's three straight wins by a total of five points (the last time IU did that was in 1987), and two victories (counting Marquette) over quality non-conference opponents certain to draw Selection Committee attention.
But that's a big-picture view to a one-game-at-a-time approach that leaves IU with an 8-2 record and plenty of reason for optimism, lack of national-ranking attention be darned.
"There's a lot of upside and room to grow," coach Archie Miller said. "As long as we can stay healthy, we can take it to another level."
Louisville (6-3) was good enough to beat Michigan State, good enough to win at Seton Hall (which just beat Kentucky), good enough to lead 30 minutes at a raucous Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
And yet, Indiana one again willed its way to victory, this time against an opponent it hadn't beaten since 2002.
"Our guys are finding a way to hang in there when things aren't going well," Miller said. "There were a lot of winning plays the last couple of minutes."
IU thrived in crunch time against Louisville just as it did against Northwestern and Penn State in the last seven days.
In Saturday's last four minutes, the Hoosiers were 3-for-3 from the field, made seven free throws and held Louisville to 2-for-7 shooting,
"We're definitely comfortable in that situation," senior forward Juwan Morgan said. "I think the hard work we put in the off-season has prepared us for that.
"Last year at this time we were losing these games. This time we're coming together as a group, doing a better job on both sides of the ball, knocking down free throws, getting stops to put us over the top."
Added Miller: "We've been in this situation the last few weeks. I anticipate it being this way for the rest of the season.
"To know we have a group that can finish with offense or defense is good."
There was freshman guard Rob Phinisee hitting a pair of crunch-time three-pointers to first provide, and then keep, an Indiana lead. He totaled 10 points, three assists and one turnover in 33 minutes.
"Make the short for my team so we can do whatever we can to win," he said.
Added Miller: "Rob did a heck of a job. He's been big in the last four minutes of the game. You need your point guard to do that."
There was freshman guard Romeo Langford relentlessly attacking Louisville until it buckled, drawing 10 fouls, making nine free throws and scoring a team-leading 21 points.
"I take what the defense gives me," Langford said. "In the first half they were giving me jump shots. In the second half, they spaced out a little bit, and that led me to drive and pass it off."
Langford made his last four free throws, including two with two seconds remaining to seal the victory
"I knew the last two free throws I shot were crucial and I had to knock them down. That's what I did."
There was Morgan doing what he does best -- score (15 points), rebound (five) and lead.
"This team has a leader in Juwan who we trust," Miller said.
Don't forget sophomore forward Justin Smith, excelling for a second straight game with nine rebounds, plus adding nine points and getting two assists without committing a turnover.
"That's the guy he has to be for us," Miller said.
IU also got much needed inside production from De'Ron Davis with eight points and two rebounds in 14 off-the-bench minutes.
"De'Ron is a big part of what we're doing," Miller said. "He's had to fight through that body pain, getting in shape while you're injured.
"He has another month before conference play starts where he can take one more just conditioning-wise."
For much of the game, Louisville went into lock-down defense every time IU got close.
The Hoosier didn't blink.
"We just had to keep fighting," Morgan said. "We were right there. We knew if we stayed within striking distance, we'd put ourselves in position to win. We did that."
Or, as Miller put it, "From a defensive standpoint continue to bring the energy. Continue to emphasize defensive rebounding. Offensively, continue to trust and move the ball. Get good action.
"Be able to hang in there and, in the last two minutes, make a couple of key winning plays."
IU came in leading the Big Ten in shooting at 51.7 percent, but missed layups on its first two possessions, fell behind 8-2 and struggled to catch up.
By halftime, Louisville led 33-28.
Early in the second half, Morgan took a shot to the nose and had to briefly come out.
IU's response -- attack the basket. Smith and Davis completed three-point plays as IU closed to within 39-38.
The Hoosiers had three possessions to take the lead, and couldn't take advantage. Louisville got a three-pointer and a dunk to push the lead back to six.
IU finally broke through for its first lead on a Phinisee three-pointer with 8:36 left, and pushed ahead by four. Louisville came back to regain the lead, at 55-54, with 4:14 left.
The Hoosiers finally got separation, at 63-58 on a Phinisee three-pointer, a Morgan layup off a Langford assist, and a Morgan free throw with 30 seconds left.
Louisville got within two points, at 66-64, when Ryan McMahon hit three free throws after being fouled by Langford on a three-point attempt with 2.2 seconds left.
Langford hit the two clinching free throws, which were needed when the Cardinals' Christen Cunningham bombed in a half-court three-pointer at the buzzer.
"We had an opportunity to win," Louisville coach Chris Mack said. "We didn't take advantage of it. It wasn't any fault other than our own. I'm certain Indiana had something to do with it, as well."
Added Morgan: "These kind of wins makes us a tougher team. It makes us more together on both sides of the ball.
"As we go into January, February and March, it will be natural for us to be in these kinds of games."
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- If you love cliffhanger victories and NCAA tourney resume builders, Indiana is must-see basketball.
Case in point -- Saturday's 68-67 win over Louisville.
That's three straight wins by a total of five points (the last time IU did that was in 1987), and two victories (counting Marquette) over quality non-conference opponents certain to draw Selection Committee attention.
But that's a big-picture view to a one-game-at-a-time approach that leaves IU with an 8-2 record and plenty of reason for optimism, lack of national-ranking attention be darned.
"There's a lot of upside and room to grow," coach Archie Miller said. "As long as we can stay healthy, we can take it to another level."
Louisville (6-3) was good enough to beat Michigan State, good enough to win at Seton Hall (which just beat Kentucky), good enough to lead 30 minutes at a raucous Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
And yet, Indiana one again willed its way to victory, this time against an opponent it hadn't beaten since 2002.
"Our guys are finding a way to hang in there when things aren't going well," Miller said. "There were a lot of winning plays the last couple of minutes."
IU thrived in crunch time against Louisville just as it did against Northwestern and Penn State in the last seven days.
In Saturday's last four minutes, the Hoosiers were 3-for-3 from the field, made seven free throws and held Louisville to 2-for-7 shooting,
"We're definitely comfortable in that situation," senior forward Juwan Morgan said. "I think the hard work we put in the off-season has prepared us for that.
"Last year at this time we were losing these games. This time we're coming together as a group, doing a better job on both sides of the ball, knocking down free throws, getting stops to put us over the top."
Added Miller: "We've been in this situation the last few weeks. I anticipate it being this way for the rest of the season.
"To know we have a group that can finish with offense or defense is good."
There was freshman guard Rob Phinisee hitting a pair of crunch-time three-pointers to first provide, and then keep, an Indiana lead. He totaled 10 points, three assists and one turnover in 33 minutes.
"Make the short for my team so we can do whatever we can to win," he said.
Added Miller: "Rob did a heck of a job. He's been big in the last four minutes of the game. You need your point guard to do that."
There was freshman guard Romeo Langford relentlessly attacking Louisville until it buckled, drawing 10 fouls, making nine free throws and scoring a team-leading 21 points.
"I take what the defense gives me," Langford said. "In the first half they were giving me jump shots. In the second half, they spaced out a little bit, and that led me to drive and pass it off."
Langford made his last four free throws, including two with two seconds remaining to seal the victory
"I knew the last two free throws I shot were crucial and I had to knock them down. That's what I did."
There was Morgan doing what he does best -- score (15 points), rebound (five) and lead.
"This team has a leader in Juwan who we trust," Miller said.
Don't forget sophomore forward Justin Smith, excelling for a second straight game with nine rebounds, plus adding nine points and getting two assists without committing a turnover.
"That's the guy he has to be for us," Miller said.
IU also got much needed inside production from De'Ron Davis with eight points and two rebounds in 14 off-the-bench minutes.
"De'Ron is a big part of what we're doing," Miller said. "He's had to fight through that body pain, getting in shape while you're injured.
"He has another month before conference play starts where he can take one more just conditioning-wise."
For much of the game, Louisville went into lock-down defense every time IU got close.
The Hoosier didn't blink.
"We just had to keep fighting," Morgan said. "We were right there. We knew if we stayed within striking distance, we'd put ourselves in position to win. We did that."
Or, as Miller put it, "From a defensive standpoint continue to bring the energy. Continue to emphasize defensive rebounding. Offensively, continue to trust and move the ball. Get good action.
"Be able to hang in there and, in the last two minutes, make a couple of key winning plays."
IU came in leading the Big Ten in shooting at 51.7 percent, but missed layups on its first two possessions, fell behind 8-2 and struggled to catch up.
By halftime, Louisville led 33-28.
Early in the second half, Morgan took a shot to the nose and had to briefly come out.
IU's response -- attack the basket. Smith and Davis completed three-point plays as IU closed to within 39-38.
The Hoosiers had three possessions to take the lead, and couldn't take advantage. Louisville got a three-pointer and a dunk to push the lead back to six.
IU finally broke through for its first lead on a Phinisee three-pointer with 8:36 left, and pushed ahead by four. Louisville came back to regain the lead, at 55-54, with 4:14 left.
The Hoosiers finally got separation, at 63-58 on a Phinisee three-pointer, a Morgan layup off a Langford assist, and a Morgan free throw with 30 seconds left.
Louisville got within two points, at 66-64, when Ryan McMahon hit three free throws after being fouled by Langford on a three-point attempt with 2.2 seconds left.
Langford hit the two clinching free throws, which were needed when the Cardinals' Christen Cunningham bombed in a half-court three-pointer at the buzzer.
"We had an opportunity to win," Louisville coach Chris Mack said. "We didn't take advantage of it. It wasn't any fault other than our own. I'm certain Indiana had something to do with it, as well."
Added Morgan: "These kind of wins makes us a tougher team. It makes us more together on both sides of the ball.
"As we go into January, February and March, it will be natural for us to be in these kinds of games."
Team Stats
M-367
M-306
FG%
.383
.490
3FG%
.344
.286
FT%
.769
.640
RB
36
33
TO
9
10
STL
6
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
21
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
9
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballForward
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