Hoosiers Mount Second-Half Comeback to Defeat Northwestern, 66-62

Wednesday, January 8

Bloomington, Ind.

7:00 PM

Indiana University

12-3,2-2Big Ten

Northwestern

5-9,0-4Big Ten

Northwestern

Indiana

Hoosiers Mount Second-Half Comeback to Defeat Northwestern, 66-62

1/8/2020 9:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It was crunch-time opportunity that screamed for stifling defense, for clutch offense, for a big play, for somebody -- anybody -- to step up.

As it turned out on Wednesday night, that meant Indiana's Trayce Jackson-Davis, Justin Smith, Aljami Durham, Joey Brunk and Rob Phinisee.

On Wednesday night, with a game on the brink, with the offense struggling against injury-ravaged Northwestern, the Hoosiers found themselves and, perhaps, the key to a successful season.

IU's 66-62 victory at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall didn't cure all the flaws, but it provided hope that it was ready to make a Big Ten move.

"It took desperation to get us going," coach Archie Miller said. "Then we played harder. We had a group in there that competed and made a lot of hustle plays.

"Our guys found a way to win it with the group in there. We'll take it."

The Hoosiers (12-3 overall, 2-2 in the Big Ten) held Northwestern (5-9, 0-4) scoreless for nearly seven second-half minutes to give themselves a chance. A 10-point deficit with 10 minutes left in the game became, ultimately, a huge win for a team that had stumbled to consecutive losses.

"It was a Big Ten win," Miller said. "It doesn't matter how you get it. They're all hard.

"Northwestern is well coached. They execute and do their stuff. They made it hard on us."

It also led to, potentially, this Hoosier game changer – Miller might scrap his preference to play 11 guys.

"Our guys aren't locked in to doing their jobs," Miller said. "Strength in numbers only goes so far. The numbers might have to shrink to give guys a jolt to play better.

"Nobody needs to see anybody jogging and not playing hard. We've had good, competitive practices. On game day, we need production."

Jackson-Davis produced with 21 points and seven rebounds. Smith had 18 and six. Durham had 16 points and four assists.

Wednesday's rally started with defense. IU picked up full-court pressure in the second half, with Durham leading the way. His three steals matched Smith for the team high.

"We know how good we are, how good our defense is," Durham said. "If we're locked in our defense, we can get out and run and play our game."

Added Jackson-Davis: "With Al picking it up on defense, it was harder for them to get into their offense. They had to speed up their cuts. We had a big emphasis on the ball and picked them up on defense."

IU thrived on the free-throw line. It was 23-for-30 to Northwestern's 8-for-10.

The Hoosiers only took four second-half three-pointers, and missed them all.

"We wanted to get back what made us successful early in the season, which was get to the free throw line," Smith said. "That's how it happened."

It's also how it needs to keep happening, he added.

"Going forward, it will be a good idea to use our length and our strength inside to put pressure on the defense inside."

A battered Northwestern team was down to seven scholarship players. It had lost four straight, although all by nine or fewer points.

That suggested a battle was coming.

Were the Hoosiers ready?

At the start, yes.

At the finish, yes.

In the middle - not so much.

No matter. IU found a way, and with No. 12 Ohio State coming to Assembly Hall on Saturday, that's a huge boost.

"We've got to punch through that wall," Miller said. "If you're not ready to go on Saturday, that's a problem."

Free throws and three-point shooting, not always kind to IU this season, were Cream 'n Crimson friendly for the first 11 minutes.

The Hoosiers hit their first two three-pointers and their first six free throws against Northwestern's man defense.

Enter the Wildcats zone.

They didn't play it exclusively, but they played it to disrupt and it worked, turning a potential blowout defeat into high Big Ten drama IU wanted to avoid.

Still, the Hoosiers regained their knack for cliffhanger victories, duplicating those against Connecticut, Nebraska and Notre Dame.

"Give Indiana credit, they made plays and got to the foul line," Northwestern coach Chris Collins said. "They turned us over a little bit in that stretch and did the things you need to do to win the game."

A big reason -- the Assembly Hall edge.

"We were at home," Miller said. "That helps. Give the crowd a few things to cheer about, and they'll help you. We need to do that. Our guys need to play more inspired."

Indiana opened 2-for-2 on three-pointers and 5-for-5 on free throws to take a 17-13 lead.

With Jackson-Davis punishing the Wildcats inside and Durham, Smith and Jerome Hunter hitting three-pointers, the Hoosiers pushed ahead by 10 points with just under nine minutes left in the first half.

They led 29-19 when Northwestern's zone defense took full effect. The Wildcats' 11-0 run gave them a 30-29 lead. They ended the half on a 15-2 surge for a 34-31 halftime lead.

The second-half start wasn't much better. Northwestern pushed ahead by five, then seven, then nine, then 10 as the clock ticked under 10 minutes.

The only thing keeping the Hoosiers that close were free throws … and defense.

Smith hit a jumper, got a steal, was fouled and made a free throw. Durham hit a pair of free throws. Jackson-Davis tipped in his own inside miss. Northwestern led 50-47 with less than nine minutes remaining.

Three straight Durham free throws forged a 50-50 tie. There were two more ties before Northwestern pushed ahead 59-54 on a three-pointer and a pair of free throws.

Then Indiana cranked up the defense and offense.

IU tied it at 59-59 on five straight Smith points. Jackson-Davis followed with a pair of free throws, a dunk and a free throw.

That was enough on this night. As for future ones, Miller said, "We've got to get ourselves out of a little bit of a funk. We have to compete a lot harder. This is the toughest league in America to win a game."