Indiana Falls on the Road at Ohio State, 68-59

Saturday, February 1

Columbus, Ohio

12:00 PM

Indiana University

15-7,5-6Big Ten

Ohio State

14-7,4-6Big Ten

Indiana

Ohio St.

2/1/2020 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Indiana has a week to get it right.

Seven days to find its two-foot offense, dial in on defense and become the Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall beast it has been for so much of the season.

With Saturday's 68-59 loss at Ohio State again exposing Hoosier flaws and Big Ten road reality, beast mode will focus on rival Purdue.

"If ever we need (an opportunity) to climb out of it, we have one this week before playing Purdue," coach Archie Miller told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during his post-game radio show.

"We should rise to the occasion. Get it together. For guys who are about the right thing, this is when the moment of truth really hits."

A three-game losing streak has ripped away the momentum from the Michigan State victory. It has created doubt and vulnerability, and change won't come by wishing it so.

"You have to lean on each other," Miller told Fischer. "For us, this is our time. We have to fight our way out of it."

On Saturday against a struggling Ohio State, IU (15-7 overall, 5-6 in the Big Ten) needed strong guard play. It needed to attack the basket, make point-blank shots, get to the line and defend the paint.

Need didn't match production.

Indiana was out-rebounded, out-hustled and out-played in losing for the fifth time in six Big Ten road games.

"This is the first time in a while that this group has had a hard time on the backboard," Miller told Fischer. "(Rebounding) has been a strength of ours. We had a hard time on the glass. We probably had five balls bounce out of bounds. We have to rebound better.

"We're just not tough enough around the basket to finish. We did a better job in the second half of shooting and making some plays, but we didn't have a complete game."

There were positives to build on. The Hoosiers, who came in as one of the Big Ten's worst three-point shooting teams, were 7-for-12 from beyond the arc and 14-for-18 from the line. They also held Ohio State (14-7, 4-6) to just eight free throw attempts.

It wasn't enough.

"When you go through a losing streak and a rough patch," Miller told Fischer, "you have to reach a point where you draw a line in the sand. A point where it's got to change.

"Our team is at that moment."

Ohio State had 11 offensive rebounds to IU's four, had an 8-0 edge in second-chance points and a 31-24 rebound advantage.

That was crucial given the Buckeyes entered the game as one of the Big Ten's weaker rebounding teams, while the Hoosiers were second in the conference in rebounding margin (plus-6.9) and first in defensive rebounding percentage.

"It's not the losses that bother you as much as the way it's happening," Miller told Fischer. "We've lost our physicality. Our inside guys aren't doing a good job of finishing or rebounding. Our pace of play and inability to not turn it over has hurt us."

Adding to IU's woes, Ohio State was 10-for-27 from three-point range, 7-for-14 in the second half. Sophomore forward Justin Ahrens came off the bench for 11 points on 3-for-5 three-point shooting. Standout big man Kaleb Wesson had 15 points (including a three-pointer) and 11 rebounds.

"In the second half they stepped up and made some shots," Miller told Fischer. "Ahrens has done a nice job of late giving them firepower off the bench from the three-point line.

"They played unselfishly and were clean."

For IU, guard Rob Phinisee had 11 points on 4-for-7 shooting with three assists. Guard Devonte Green had 13 points on 3-for-4 three-point shooting. Forward Trayce Jackson-Davis took only six shots (making two) and totaled seven points and seven rebounds.

IU opened with a 7-6 lead. Ohio State responded with a 16-3 run to take control it never lost.

Jackson-Davis needed 15 minutes to get a shot, and he set that up with a powerful block of forward E.J. Liddell's dunk attempt, then followed with his own dunk.

Still, the Hoosiers trailed 27-17.

Ohio State had a chance to take total control by halftime. But a Buckeye turnover gave the Hoosiers a chance, and Green took advantage by banking in a half-court three-pointer. IU trailed 31-22 and had momentum.

The Hoosiers cut the lead to six early in the second half. A Jerome Hunter three-pointer got the Hoosiers to eight at 40-32 as the clock ticked under 16 minutes.

Then it all faded.

Ohio State built leads as large as 19 to cruise to just its third win in its last nine games.

"We had a chance to get it going in the second half," Miller told Fischer, "but it was way too easy for them to continue to score."

Indiana has a week to get it right.

"We're really unsure of ourselves around the basket right now," Miller said, "and that hurts.

"We're the only ones who can get ourselves out of it. I can't think of a better opportunity than Purdue on Saturday."