Indiana University Athletics
Friday, February 22
Iowa City, IA
9:00 PM
Indiana University
13-13
70
at
76
Iowa
20-6
1
2
OT 1
F
Indiana
28
35
7
70
Iowa
28
35
13
76
Indiana Falls at No. 21/19 Iowa in OT, 76-70
2/22/2019 11:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio, IUHoosiers.com
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The blows keep coming.
Nail-biter defeat begets nail-biter defeat.
The Archie Miller-directed message remains the same:
Don't give in.
Concede nothing.
This, too, shall pass.
There was Miller, moments removed from Friday night's 76-70 overtime loss at No. 21 Iowa, talking to Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer on a post-game-radio-show quest to keep the basketball fight alive.
"It all depends on how hungry you are," he told Fischer. "How determined you are.
"We're not playing pouty or have our head down. We've gotten past that point. We're a very desperate team."
Desperation comes from this reality -- in the last three days the Hoosiers (13-14) have lost to No. 15 Purdue and then the Hawkeyes by a combined eight points.
Disappointment, Miller told Fischer, shouldn't lead to quit.
"We've played two (ranked) all the way to the buzzer. At some point, that has to come around our way if we stay with it. If we have a great attitude.
"But if we don't have everybody going in the same direction, we'll come up short."
A season-long unwanted reality continued – IU was 6-for-27 from three-point range, 12-for-22 from the free throw line.
Beyond that, the Hoosiers, who have lost 12 of their last 13 games, have a losing record for the first time all season.
Next up -- home games against No. 22 Wisconsin and No. 10 Michigan State.
"Sometimes breaks go against you," Miller told Fischer. "The whole key is Tuesday night. Are we going to be ready to go?"
In so many ways Friday night, the Hoosiers were ready.
They defended ferociously, battled relentlessly, played passionately.
"This clearly was a game we should have won," Miller told Fischer. "We played hard enough, tough enough and well enough to win. We made enough plays to be there at the end."
Take, for instance, the sudden and unexpected reemergence of Evan Fitzner. He scored 11 off-the-bench points, which was one more than he'd scored in his previous 11 games.
This was the guy IU coaches had hoped they were getting when they signed him as a graduate transfer out of St. Mary's.
But his shooting stroke had gone into hibernation (just four three-pointers since Dec. 1). Add inconsistent defense and effort, and Fitzner didn't play a second against Purdue three days earlier.
But he kept working. He couldn't miss on extra shooting drills at Cook Hall, and it finally transferred into a game.
He was 5-for-8 from the field against Iowa, including a three-pointer.
Then there was forward Race Thompson, still working his way back from a severe concussion. He had four rebounds in 11 off-the-bench minutes.
"Both guys did an excellent job, especially in the first half when we were playing without starters," Miller told Fischer.
"Evan gave us great presence against the zone and Race did a good job on the glass. Without question our bench did a good job."
For much of the game, IU turned Iowa, one of the most potent offensive teams in the Big Ten, into scoring futility. The Hawkeyes' three-point shooting prowess was a no-show.
Then it returned, and the Hoosiers paid the price.
Iowa guard Jordan Bohannon did it again.
Bohannon hit five three-pointers, three in overtime, to turn Indiana victory into defeat. That followed a couple of huge three-pointers he'd made against IU at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall two weeks earlier in a 77-72 Hawkeye win.
"Give Bohannon some credit," Miller told Fischer. "He seems to be the one guy willing to make (three-pointers). He did at an unbelievably tough time for us."
Indiana had eight blocks, including a career-high six by Juwan Morgan. It added nine steals (three by Morgan) and 17 deflections.
"We were active," Miller told Fischer. "We had to be. They're big. They're strong. Our on-ball defense was as good as its been."
Iowa basketball had turned into a thrill ride, with white-knuckle finishes becoming the norm. Its previous three games had gone to the final seconds, including buzzer beaters over Northwestern and Rutgers. Its previous four games were decided by a total of nine points.
Indiana, as it turned out, was more than ready.
It just wasn't quite enough.
"Give Iowa credit," Miller told Fischer. "They've been able to win most of the games they've played in a similar fashion -- bombs from three. In overtime generally we were OK, but the threes broke it open."
The Hoosiers made an early statement. They scored the game's first eight points, with center DeRon Davis muscling in five of them.
IU found its offense against an often shaky Iowa defense to push ahead 13-6. Davis picked up his second foul and went to the bench. Iowa countered with zone defense and a 13-2 run to take a 19-15 lead.
Fitzner broke the Hoosiers' six-minute scoring drought with a jumper. Then he hit another. Despite mounting foul trouble, IU scored seven of nine points to take a 22-21 lead.
Fitzner added another basket as the Hoosiers edged ahead 28-25 before ending the half in a 28-28 tie.
IU scored the first six points of the second half, which was Cream 'n Crimson good. Morgan picked up his third foul, which briefly sent him to the bench, which was not so good -- except it brought Fitzner back into the game.
He responded with a three-pointer as IU pushed ahead 41-34.
Iowa clawed back, but the Hoosiers didn't break.
Morgan found his offense. Freshman guard Romeo Langford attack his way to points (he finished with 14 in 44 minutes). Davis muscled in a rebound and a basket.
IU kept holding off the Hawkeyes. It led 63-60 after guard Rob Phinisee hit the first of two free throw opportunities. He missed the second. Bohannon hit a three-pointer for a tie. Langford missed a three-pointer for the win.
Overtime.
Bohannon hit a couple of three-pointers as Iowa edged ahead by four. IU stayed within range on Davis' three-point play and Morgan's rebound and basket. Iowa clung to a 72-70 lead as the clock ticked under 30 seconds.
Then came Bohannon's third clutch three-pointer over fierce Devonte Green defense.
The Hawkeyes would survive.
The Hoosiers, Miller insisted, would regroup.
"Everybody on the team has to have an unbelievable attitude. We have a couple of days to prepare for Wisconsin."
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The blows keep coming.
Nail-biter defeat begets nail-biter defeat.
The Archie Miller-directed message remains the same:
Don't give in.
Concede nothing.
This, too, shall pass.
There was Miller, moments removed from Friday night's 76-70 overtime loss at No. 21 Iowa, talking to Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer on a post-game-radio-show quest to keep the basketball fight alive.
"It all depends on how hungry you are," he told Fischer. "How determined you are.
"We're not playing pouty or have our head down. We've gotten past that point. We're a very desperate team."
Desperation comes from this reality -- in the last three days the Hoosiers (13-14) have lost to No. 15 Purdue and then the Hawkeyes by a combined eight points.
Disappointment, Miller told Fischer, shouldn't lead to quit.
"We've played two (ranked) all the way to the buzzer. At some point, that has to come around our way if we stay with it. If we have a great attitude.
"But if we don't have everybody going in the same direction, we'll come up short."
A season-long unwanted reality continued – IU was 6-for-27 from three-point range, 12-for-22 from the free throw line.
Beyond that, the Hoosiers, who have lost 12 of their last 13 games, have a losing record for the first time all season.
Next up -- home games against No. 22 Wisconsin and No. 10 Michigan State.
"Sometimes breaks go against you," Miller told Fischer. "The whole key is Tuesday night. Are we going to be ready to go?"
In so many ways Friday night, the Hoosiers were ready.
They defended ferociously, battled relentlessly, played passionately.
"This clearly was a game we should have won," Miller told Fischer. "We played hard enough, tough enough and well enough to win. We made enough plays to be there at the end."
Take, for instance, the sudden and unexpected reemergence of Evan Fitzner. He scored 11 off-the-bench points, which was one more than he'd scored in his previous 11 games.
This was the guy IU coaches had hoped they were getting when they signed him as a graduate transfer out of St. Mary's.
But his shooting stroke had gone into hibernation (just four three-pointers since Dec. 1). Add inconsistent defense and effort, and Fitzner didn't play a second against Purdue three days earlier.
But he kept working. He couldn't miss on extra shooting drills at Cook Hall, and it finally transferred into a game.
He was 5-for-8 from the field against Iowa, including a three-pointer.
Then there was forward Race Thompson, still working his way back from a severe concussion. He had four rebounds in 11 off-the-bench minutes.
"Both guys did an excellent job, especially in the first half when we were playing without starters," Miller told Fischer.
"Evan gave us great presence against the zone and Race did a good job on the glass. Without question our bench did a good job."
For much of the game, IU turned Iowa, one of the most potent offensive teams in the Big Ten, into scoring futility. The Hawkeyes' three-point shooting prowess was a no-show.
Then it returned, and the Hoosiers paid the price.
Iowa guard Jordan Bohannon did it again.
Bohannon hit five three-pointers, three in overtime, to turn Indiana victory into defeat. That followed a couple of huge three-pointers he'd made against IU at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall two weeks earlier in a 77-72 Hawkeye win.
"Give Bohannon some credit," Miller told Fischer. "He seems to be the one guy willing to make (three-pointers). He did at an unbelievably tough time for us."
Indiana had eight blocks, including a career-high six by Juwan Morgan. It added nine steals (three by Morgan) and 17 deflections.
"We were active," Miller told Fischer. "We had to be. They're big. They're strong. Our on-ball defense was as good as its been."
Iowa basketball had turned into a thrill ride, with white-knuckle finishes becoming the norm. Its previous three games had gone to the final seconds, including buzzer beaters over Northwestern and Rutgers. Its previous four games were decided by a total of nine points.
Indiana, as it turned out, was more than ready.
It just wasn't quite enough.
"Give Iowa credit," Miller told Fischer. "They've been able to win most of the games they've played in a similar fashion -- bombs from three. In overtime generally we were OK, but the threes broke it open."
The Hoosiers made an early statement. They scored the game's first eight points, with center DeRon Davis muscling in five of them.
IU found its offense against an often shaky Iowa defense to push ahead 13-6. Davis picked up his second foul and went to the bench. Iowa countered with zone defense and a 13-2 run to take a 19-15 lead.
Fitzner broke the Hoosiers' six-minute scoring drought with a jumper. Then he hit another. Despite mounting foul trouble, IU scored seven of nine points to take a 22-21 lead.
Fitzner added another basket as the Hoosiers edged ahead 28-25 before ending the half in a 28-28 tie.
IU scored the first six points of the second half, which was Cream 'n Crimson good. Morgan picked up his third foul, which briefly sent him to the bench, which was not so good -- except it brought Fitzner back into the game.
He responded with a three-pointer as IU pushed ahead 41-34.
Iowa clawed back, but the Hoosiers didn't break.
Morgan found his offense. Freshman guard Romeo Langford attack his way to points (he finished with 14 in 44 minutes). Davis muscled in a rebound and a basket.
IU kept holding off the Hawkeyes. It led 63-60 after guard Rob Phinisee hit the first of two free throw opportunities. He missed the second. Bohannon hit a three-pointer for a tie. Langford missed a three-pointer for the win.
Overtime.
Bohannon hit a couple of three-pointers as Iowa edged ahead by four. IU stayed within range on Davis' three-point play and Morgan's rebound and basket. Iowa clung to a 72-70 lead as the clock ticked under 30 seconds.
Then came Bohannon's third clutch three-pointer over fierce Devonte Green defense.
The Hawkeyes would survive.
The Hoosiers, Miller insisted, would regroup.
"Everybody on the team has to have an unbelievable attitude. We have a couple of days to prepare for Wisconsin."
Team Stats
IND
IWA
FG%
.413
.419
3FG%
.222
.280
FT%
.545
.680
RB
38
46
TO
11
12
STL
9
4
Game Leaders
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
4
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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