
Jackson-Davis Powers Hoosiers to 96-90 Overtime Victory over Nebraska
12/13/2019 10:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- It was a second half that screamed for Cream 'n Crimson inside domination.
In other words, get the ball to Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Indiana did.
It was overtime thriller that demanded a Hoosier play.
Rob Phinisee delivered.
Throw in a healthy dose of Justin Smith, Aljami Durham, Damezi Anderson and Armaan Franklin and you get a Friday night 96-90 win over Nebraska rich in possibilities and coaching points.
"We're fortune, thankful, excited," coach Archie Miller said. "Finding a way to win is very gratifying."
Phinisee dominated the overtime with seven points and an assist. He finished with 16 points and four assists in 26 minutes. He was 6-for-10 from the field, 2-for-4 on three-pointers.
Not bad for a guy rounding into form after an ankle injury, and more.
"I made shots when the team needed it," Phinisee said. "I tried to make big plays when the team needed it."
It was more than that, Jackson-Davis added.
"It's hard to come back from injury, especially coming back from an ankle injury. He raised his level. He played hard. When you're a gamer like he is, you'll get things done."
IU (10-1 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten play) got 25 points and 15 rebounds from Jackson-Davis, 16 points and 10 rebounds from Justin Smith, and 14 points from Al Durham.
Jackson-Davis and Smith were particularly effective in the second half against the smaller Cornhuskers (4-6, 0-1), and the 54-31 rebounding edge reflected that.
"We had mismatches down there," Smith said. "We could use our quickness, size and strength. It was part of the game plan to go inside and get easier baskets and punish them."
Added Miller: "Justin and Trayce pounded them late in the game. Our team in general did a great job in rebounding."
Shooting was one area of concern. The Hoosiers were just 5-for-25 from three-point range.
"We have to shoot better," Miller said. "Some guys need to make them. As a coach you think, 'What could I have done to help our guys be better?'"
Defense was a big problem. Nebraska made 12 three-pointers and thrived behind guards Dachon Burke (25 points), Haanif Cheatham (21 points), Thorir Thorbjarnarson (17) and Cam Mack (15).
"Nebraska guards were as good as any we've seen in a while," Miller said. "They were four steps faster than us."
When it mattered most in overtime, Phinisee, Anderson, Franklin, Jackson-Davis and Smith played, and if it wasn't the lineup you might have expected, that wasn't the point.
Doing what needed to be done was.
"We finally found a group late that worked," Miller said. "Rob being back saved us."
"He had an impressive week. He played 26 minutes and we needed them all. He Stepped up big for us late. He made big free throws, hit a huge three. He's as team a guy as you get."
As for why senior guard Devonte Green wasn't out there in overtime (he played just 14 minutes), Miller said Green told him his Achilles tendon was bothering him.
"If he can't go (in next Saturday's game against Notre Dame in the Crossroads Classic), we'll get ready with the other three guys," Miller said.
The Hoosiers had a chance to close it out in regulation. They led by three in the closing seconds. Miller said he should have told his players to foul. Instead, they played it out, and Nebraska's Burke hit the overtime-forcing three-pointer with one second remaining.
Disappointing?
Sure.
But not backbreaking.
"We tried to keep our composure," Phinisee said. "You don't want to panic. We played hard in overtime."
Nebraska prospects took a hit before tipoff with the announcement that guard Jervay Green was suspended indefinitely due to a violation of team rules. The Cornhuskers would have to find a way to replace his 10 points a game.
The Hoosiers capitalized by racing to an 11-2 lead capped by a Durham-to-Smith dunk that forced Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg to call a timeout.
The result – a 14-2 Nebraska run (IU missed eight of nine shots) that pushed the Cornhuskers ahead 16-13.
Four straight Durham points ended that streak.
The Cornhuskers went into attack-the-basket mode to go up 29-26.
IU forward Joey Brunk countered for four straight points as the teams began exchanging leads before Indiana settled for a 40-39 halftime lead.
Jackson-Davis scored IU's first six points of the second half as the Hoosiers led 46-44, gave up a 5-0 run, then scored five straight.
The Hoosiers' relentless rebounding finally created separation. With four minutes left, the lead was eight.
Nebraska twice closed within a point in the final 36 seconds.
Two Phinisee free throws with 10 seconds left appeared to clinch it – until a Burke three-pointer with one second left produced overtime.
A Phinisee layup and then a shot-clock-beating three-pointer sparked the Hoosiers in the extra session. So did a pair of Jackson-Davis baskets.
The Hoosiers would survive.
"We came out (in overtime), responded and played hard all the way through," Miller said.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- It was a second half that screamed for Cream 'n Crimson inside domination.
In other words, get the ball to Trayce Jackson-Davis.
Indiana did.
It was overtime thriller that demanded a Hoosier play.
Rob Phinisee delivered.
Throw in a healthy dose of Justin Smith, Aljami Durham, Damezi Anderson and Armaan Franklin and you get a Friday night 96-90 win over Nebraska rich in possibilities and coaching points.
"We're fortune, thankful, excited," coach Archie Miller said. "Finding a way to win is very gratifying."
Phinisee dominated the overtime with seven points and an assist. He finished with 16 points and four assists in 26 minutes. He was 6-for-10 from the field, 2-for-4 on three-pointers.
Not bad for a guy rounding into form after an ankle injury, and more.
"I made shots when the team needed it," Phinisee said. "I tried to make big plays when the team needed it."
It was more than that, Jackson-Davis added.
"It's hard to come back from injury, especially coming back from an ankle injury. He raised his level. He played hard. When you're a gamer like he is, you'll get things done."
IU (10-1 overall, 1-1 in Big Ten play) got 25 points and 15 rebounds from Jackson-Davis, 16 points and 10 rebounds from Justin Smith, and 14 points from Al Durham.
Jackson-Davis and Smith were particularly effective in the second half against the smaller Cornhuskers (4-6, 0-1), and the 54-31 rebounding edge reflected that.
"We had mismatches down there," Smith said. "We could use our quickness, size and strength. It was part of the game plan to go inside and get easier baskets and punish them."
Added Miller: "Justin and Trayce pounded them late in the game. Our team in general did a great job in rebounding."
Shooting was one area of concern. The Hoosiers were just 5-for-25 from three-point range.
"We have to shoot better," Miller said. "Some guys need to make them. As a coach you think, 'What could I have done to help our guys be better?'"
Defense was a big problem. Nebraska made 12 three-pointers and thrived behind guards Dachon Burke (25 points), Haanif Cheatham (21 points), Thorir Thorbjarnarson (17) and Cam Mack (15).
"Nebraska guards were as good as any we've seen in a while," Miller said. "They were four steps faster than us."
When it mattered most in overtime, Phinisee, Anderson, Franklin, Jackson-Davis and Smith played, and if it wasn't the lineup you might have expected, that wasn't the point.
Doing what needed to be done was.
"We finally found a group late that worked," Miller said. "Rob being back saved us."
"He had an impressive week. He played 26 minutes and we needed them all. He Stepped up big for us late. He made big free throws, hit a huge three. He's as team a guy as you get."
As for why senior guard Devonte Green wasn't out there in overtime (he played just 14 minutes), Miller said Green told him his Achilles tendon was bothering him.
"If he can't go (in next Saturday's game against Notre Dame in the Crossroads Classic), we'll get ready with the other three guys," Miller said.
The Hoosiers had a chance to close it out in regulation. They led by three in the closing seconds. Miller said he should have told his players to foul. Instead, they played it out, and Nebraska's Burke hit the overtime-forcing three-pointer with one second remaining.
Disappointing?
Sure.
But not backbreaking.
"We tried to keep our composure," Phinisee said. "You don't want to panic. We played hard in overtime."
Nebraska prospects took a hit before tipoff with the announcement that guard Jervay Green was suspended indefinitely due to a violation of team rules. The Cornhuskers would have to find a way to replace his 10 points a game.
The Hoosiers capitalized by racing to an 11-2 lead capped by a Durham-to-Smith dunk that forced Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg to call a timeout.
The result – a 14-2 Nebraska run (IU missed eight of nine shots) that pushed the Cornhuskers ahead 16-13.
Four straight Durham points ended that streak.
The Cornhuskers went into attack-the-basket mode to go up 29-26.
IU forward Joey Brunk countered for four straight points as the teams began exchanging leads before Indiana settled for a 40-39 halftime lead.
Jackson-Davis scored IU's first six points of the second half as the Hoosiers led 46-44, gave up a 5-0 run, then scored five straight.
The Hoosiers' relentless rebounding finally created separation. With four minutes left, the lead was eight.
Nebraska twice closed within a point in the final 36 seconds.
Two Phinisee free throws with 10 seconds left appeared to clinch it – until a Burke three-pointer with one second left produced overtime.
A Phinisee layup and then a shot-clock-beating three-pointer sparked the Hoosiers in the extra session. So did a pair of Jackson-Davis baskets.
The Hoosiers would survive.
"We came out (in overtime), responded and played hard all the way through," Miller said.
Team Stats
Nebr
IND
FG%
.440
.471
3FG%
.375
.200
FT%
.667
.711
RB
31
54
TO
9
15
STL
5
5
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