Indiana University Athletics
Sunday, February 23
Bloomington, Ind.
12:00 PM
Indiana University
18-9,8-8Big Ten
68
vs
60
Penn State
20-7,10-6Big Ten
1
2
F
Penn St.
24
36
60
Indiana
37
31
68
Hoosiers Take Down No. 9 Penn State on Sunday Afternoon, 68-60
2/23/2020 2:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It was won. It was lost. It was the best of Indiana basketball. It was not.
It was all here on a pulsating Sunday afternoon at a rocking Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall -- the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful -- and when it was over, the Hoosiers had a 68-60 victory over No. 9 Penn State that suggested a rollercoaster season was rising to a thrilling finish.
"We have a lot of great things in front of us if we continue to hone-in and get better," coach Archie Miller said.
"It's not about what just happened. It's about what can happen."
These Hoosiers (18-9 overall, 8-8 in the Big Ten) are not flawless, but they are resilient. Criticism bounces off in part because their social media notifications are turned off. Junior forward Justin Smith showed them that trick.
"This group been good about not worrying about what everybody's saying," he said. "We don't pay attention.
"That comes with it. It's good that we show some resiliency and are able to stay with it."
Indiana delivered a punch, took a punch. A 19-point first-half lead became a six-point second-half deficit.
The Hoosiers were reeling.
They were not broken.
"In the second half we took a huge punch," Miller said. "At times this season that punch has hurt us a lot more.
"We found a way to hang in there. In the last eight minutes, we made almost every hustle play. We made plays when it was really hard."
Added Smith: "We knew they were going to go on a run. They're the No. 9 team in the country. We didn't expect to blow them out.
"You stay the course and not worry about any run that's going on."
This reflects a Hoosier season that alternates knock downs and knock outs.
"We lose a couple in a row and everybody counts us out," Smith said. "Everybody wants to freak out.
"But we never wavered. This is a tough league. All the teams are good, and they're going to get you a couple of times. But it's always how you bounce back."
With 10 minutes left and IU clinging to a 49-48 lead, it came down to this:
Which was the toughest, most competitive team?
On this day and setting, it was Indiana.
"We responded really well," Smith said. "We're going to build on this momentum going forward."
Two straight victories, including Thursday night at Minnesota, and three wins in the last four games (two against ranked teams), fuels that optimism.
"We've been playing good defense," guard Aljami Durham said. "We've been taking care of the ball; we've been going inside-out; and we've been playing efficient offense. We've been doing a good all-around job."
Down the stretch, IU defended with ferocity that wins championships. Nothing came easy for the Nittany Lions (20-7, 10-6). Layups became quantum physics equations. Passing was contested to the brink of legality because it had to be. Penn State did the same to the Hoosiers.
"The physicality is our league is above any league in the country," Miller said. "We need guys willing to stick their noses in there.
"You have to be the toughest team the longest."
Jackson-Davis had his second straight double-double, and ninth of the season, with 13 points and 10 rebounds against one of the Big Ten's most punishing group of inside defenders. IU is 9-0 in these games.
"Those dudes were physical," Miller said. "They're bullies.
"Trayce played through it. He shot 17 times. That's what I'm happy about. He was aggressive. He stayed with it."
Durham had 14 points. Guard Devonte Green added 10. Guard Rob Phinisee had seven points, five rebounds, five steals and drew five fouls.
But numbers gave way to team toughness. Multiple players contributed in multiple ways -- scoring, rebounding, defending, passing, doing what needed to be done.
IU was plus-13 with forward Race Thompson and his eight points and four rebounds in the game. It was plus-13 with center De'Ron Davis even though he only had two points, no rebounds and four fouls.
"We have guys who are in a good groove in terms of understanding what they bring to the table," Miller said. "You're seeing multiple contributions from a lot of guys.
"This is about playing the best you can at the right time."
The Hoosiers began by continuing their get-Jackson-Davis-the-ball approach from the Minnesota win three days earlier. He scored IU's first points 25 seconds into the game.
An active defense (forcing three turnovers) -- and perfect shooting (5-for-5 from the field) -- boosted the Hoosiers to a 14-5 lead in the first five minutes. Durham set the pace with the first of IU's five three-pointers. Jackson-Davis added a soaring one-hand dunk. Phinisee had two steals.
For 13 minutes, IU defended Penn State into offensive irrelevance. The Nittany Lions were 3-for-9 from the field with seven turnovers. Adding to their woes -- second-leading scorer Myreon Jones was missing his fifth straight game with an undisclosed illness.
IU surged ahead 24-8. Then the Green no opposing coach wants to face emerged. He went 3-for-3 on three-pointers in one stretch to help build the Hoosier lead to 19.
They ended the half ahead 37-24 and were seemingly in control.
It was not.
The Nittany Lions scored the first 12 points of the second half and tied it at 39-39 in less than four minutes.
"The first eight minutes of the second half," Miller said, "we were on our heels. We couldn't stop the ball. We couldn't guard the ball. Then we got it calmed down."
Penn State led 48-42 when swingman Jerome Hunter hit a long three-pointer (his only points of the game) to spark a 13-0 run. IU pushed ahead 57-50. Penn State countered with four straight free throws. Durham attacked for a basket. Smith made four free throws.
Amid crunch-time intensity, Penn State superstar forward Lamar Stevens missed a dunk that could have given his team a final chance. He came off the court and kicked the padded scorer's table in frustration. No matter that he'd scored 29 points and grabbed six rebounds.
He knew how big the miss was.
Durham and Phinisee followed by combining for five free throws, giving IU nine in the final 1:50.
Payback for last month's 64-49 loss at Penn State was complete.
"We got two wins this week," Miller said. "We played hard in both games. Had great attitudes, played with high-level effort.
"We found a way to finish."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It was won. It was lost. It was the best of Indiana basketball. It was not.
It was all here on a pulsating Sunday afternoon at a rocking Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall -- the good, the bad, the ugly and the beautiful -- and when it was over, the Hoosiers had a 68-60 victory over No. 9 Penn State that suggested a rollercoaster season was rising to a thrilling finish.
"We have a lot of great things in front of us if we continue to hone-in and get better," coach Archie Miller said.
"It's not about what just happened. It's about what can happen."
These Hoosiers (18-9 overall, 8-8 in the Big Ten) are not flawless, but they are resilient. Criticism bounces off in part because their social media notifications are turned off. Junior forward Justin Smith showed them that trick.
"This group been good about not worrying about what everybody's saying," he said. "We don't pay attention.
"That comes with it. It's good that we show some resiliency and are able to stay with it."
Indiana delivered a punch, took a punch. A 19-point first-half lead became a six-point second-half deficit.
The Hoosiers were reeling.
They were not broken.
"In the second half we took a huge punch," Miller said. "At times this season that punch has hurt us a lot more.
"We found a way to hang in there. In the last eight minutes, we made almost every hustle play. We made plays when it was really hard."
Added Smith: "We knew they were going to go on a run. They're the No. 9 team in the country. We didn't expect to blow them out.
"You stay the course and not worry about any run that's going on."
This reflects a Hoosier season that alternates knock downs and knock outs.
"We lose a couple in a row and everybody counts us out," Smith said. "Everybody wants to freak out.
"But we never wavered. This is a tough league. All the teams are good, and they're going to get you a couple of times. But it's always how you bounce back."
With 10 minutes left and IU clinging to a 49-48 lead, it came down to this:
Which was the toughest, most competitive team?
On this day and setting, it was Indiana.
"We responded really well," Smith said. "We're going to build on this momentum going forward."
Two straight victories, including Thursday night at Minnesota, and three wins in the last four games (two against ranked teams), fuels that optimism.
"We've been playing good defense," guard Aljami Durham said. "We've been taking care of the ball; we've been going inside-out; and we've been playing efficient offense. We've been doing a good all-around job."
Down the stretch, IU defended with ferocity that wins championships. Nothing came easy for the Nittany Lions (20-7, 10-6). Layups became quantum physics equations. Passing was contested to the brink of legality because it had to be. Penn State did the same to the Hoosiers.
"The physicality is our league is above any league in the country," Miller said. "We need guys willing to stick their noses in there.
"You have to be the toughest team the longest."
Jackson-Davis had his second straight double-double, and ninth of the season, with 13 points and 10 rebounds against one of the Big Ten's most punishing group of inside defenders. IU is 9-0 in these games.
"Those dudes were physical," Miller said. "They're bullies.
"Trayce played through it. He shot 17 times. That's what I'm happy about. He was aggressive. He stayed with it."
Durham had 14 points. Guard Devonte Green added 10. Guard Rob Phinisee had seven points, five rebounds, five steals and drew five fouls.
But numbers gave way to team toughness. Multiple players contributed in multiple ways -- scoring, rebounding, defending, passing, doing what needed to be done.
IU was plus-13 with forward Race Thompson and his eight points and four rebounds in the game. It was plus-13 with center De'Ron Davis even though he only had two points, no rebounds and four fouls.
"We have guys who are in a good groove in terms of understanding what they bring to the table," Miller said. "You're seeing multiple contributions from a lot of guys.
"This is about playing the best you can at the right time."
The Hoosiers began by continuing their get-Jackson-Davis-the-ball approach from the Minnesota win three days earlier. He scored IU's first points 25 seconds into the game.
An active defense (forcing three turnovers) -- and perfect shooting (5-for-5 from the field) -- boosted the Hoosiers to a 14-5 lead in the first five minutes. Durham set the pace with the first of IU's five three-pointers. Jackson-Davis added a soaring one-hand dunk. Phinisee had two steals.
For 13 minutes, IU defended Penn State into offensive irrelevance. The Nittany Lions were 3-for-9 from the field with seven turnovers. Adding to their woes -- second-leading scorer Myreon Jones was missing his fifth straight game with an undisclosed illness.
IU surged ahead 24-8. Then the Green no opposing coach wants to face emerged. He went 3-for-3 on three-pointers in one stretch to help build the Hoosier lead to 19.
They ended the half ahead 37-24 and were seemingly in control.
It was not.
The Nittany Lions scored the first 12 points of the second half and tied it at 39-39 in less than four minutes.
"The first eight minutes of the second half," Miller said, "we were on our heels. We couldn't stop the ball. We couldn't guard the ball. Then we got it calmed down."
Penn State led 48-42 when swingman Jerome Hunter hit a long three-pointer (his only points of the game) to spark a 13-0 run. IU pushed ahead 57-50. Penn State countered with four straight free throws. Durham attacked for a basket. Smith made four free throws.
Amid crunch-time intensity, Penn State superstar forward Lamar Stevens missed a dunk that could have given his team a final chance. He came off the court and kicked the padded scorer's table in frustration. No matter that he'd scored 29 points and grabbed six rebounds.
He knew how big the miss was.
Durham and Phinisee followed by combining for five free throws, giving IU nine in the final 1:50.
Payback for last month's 64-49 loss at Penn State was complete.
"We got two wins this week," Miller said. "We played hard in both games. Had great attitudes, played with high-level effort.
"We found a way to finish."
Team Stats
PSU
IND
FG%
.415
.426
3FG%
.143
.357
FT%
.636
.630
RB
37
35
TO
15
12
STL
6
10
Game Leaders
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
10
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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