IU Loses to Ohio State in Double Overtime Heartbreaker

Friday, February 23

Bloomington, Ind.

8:00 PM

Indiana University

16-14, 9-9

Ohio State

24-7, 15-3

OT 1

OT 2

Ohio State

Indiana

IU Loses to Ohio State in Double Overtime Heartbreaker

2/23/2018 10:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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BY PETE DIPRIMIO

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana victory was there, and then it wasn't.

Defeat loomed, and then it didn't.

Twists and turns dominated 50 minutes of drama Friday night that came down to a three-pointer from Ohio State's C.J. Jackson.

The No. 15 Buckeyes survived 80-78 in double overtime.

"It was a heck of a night, a heck of a game," coach Archie Miller said. "We came up short.

"I thought we did enough. We had a breakdown at the end to not contest the shot. As a coach, that will haunt you for a long time. Credit him for making a great shot."

It was a night that needed heroes, but in effective doses.

Mission accomplished.

It was a game that saw both teams aim big when small was sometimes the better option.

Lesson learned.

A Senior Night to remember left the Hoosiers (16-14 overall, 9-9 in the Big Ten) wondering about what might have been.

"It's really tough," Robert Johnson said. "With two overtimes coming down to that. We had the lead. He put up what seemed like a tough shot. It stung a little bit."

Johnson led a strong senior effort 17 points, four assists and three rebounds. Josh Newkirk had nine points, six assists and one turnover.

Fellow seniors Freddie McSwain Jr. (three points, six rebounds) and Collin Hartman (one rebound) also had their moments.

"(The seniors) have been great," Miller said. "They've been unbelievably coachable. They go to work every day.

"They had some ups and downs, and never went away from it. They were all about helping the process go. They have been studs. Rob has been an absolute stud all year. They've given us a chance to play good ball down the stretch."

That was also true of junior forward Juwan Morgan, who had 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists, but was just 5-for-12 from the line. His layup near the end of the second overtime period put IU on the cusp of victory after a game that featured 16 lead changes and 14 ties.

Until Jackson hit his third three-pointer.

IU freshman forward Justin Smith had 16 points and four rebounds. He's scored at least 13 points in four straight games.

"I don't think either team wanted to give it," Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann said. "It was an unbelievable way to cap an unbelievable season."

Ohio State (24-7, 15-3) was led by potential Big Ten MVP Keita Bates-Diop's 24 points and 14 rebounds.

It all sets the tone for next week's Big Ten tourney in New York City.

"On a neutral floor it's about energy and confidence and wanting to be there," Miller said. "We've always been able to come back to practice and get better.

"We've been in games we weren't able to close out, and that will eat at you in the offseason, but we're happy to get another opportunity to play."

Added Morgan: "We've been fighting hard as a team. We can't let up. We have to go to New York and have a fighting mentality."

Early on Friday night IU defended effectively and scored sporadically. Ohio State capitalized for a 26-14 lead.

The Hoosiers needed a spark.

Enter Johnson.

He drained a three-pointer. The defense followed by forcing a turnover that became a Morgan three-point play.

That cut the deficit in half.

A Smith dunk followed another Buckeye turnover, and the Hoosiers were rolling, the Buckeyes reeling.

IU closed to 31-30 and would have had the lead if not for 2-for-6 free throw shooting.

Still, the Hoosiers kept coming. A McSwain free throw produced a 31-31 tie. Two Newkirk free throws made it 33-33 at halftime.

Ohio State scored the first six points of the second half before Zach McRoberts hit a three-pointer, his first in six games.

The Buckeyes pushed ahead by seven. IU pushed back behind a Johnson three-pointer. Layups by Aljami Durham and Smith forged a 50-50 tie.

Ohio State surged for a 59-54 lead, then lost its offense while the Hoosiers found theirs. Their 7-0 run put them ahead 61-59.

In the closing seconds of regulation and a 63-63 tie, IU had the ball and a chance to go for the win. Johnson attacked the basket, but his shot missed.

Overtime.

Johnson got a second chance to be a difference maker at the end of the second overtime, and made a pair of free throws in the final 10 seconds for a 70-70 tie.

A back-and-forth final five minutes saw Morgan muscle in a layup with seven seconds left for a 78-77 Indiana lead, only to see Jackson break Hoosier hearts with his three-pointer.

In the Senior Night aftermath, Tim Priller, McSwain, Hartman, Johnson and Newkirk were honored.

It was Hartman's second Senior Night opportunity. He also participated last season before deciding to return for a fifth year.

"It's always been a dream of mine to play at a program like this," an emotional Johnson said. "(Playing here) has made me a better man. I hope along the way I impacted someone else and inspired someone else to be better."

Added Miller: "Sometimes when there are (coaching) changes things can go in a lot of different directions. This team continued to grow. You got a chance to see some of the bright futures we have, but you don't get it if the seniors aren't all in. (If they aren't), they can fracture your team. But these seniors have been outstanding since Day One.

"Tonight was very painful. We weren't able to get the job done. For these seniors, there will be moments they can look back on and remember where we started. These guys have given us everything in their power to build and build."