Hoosiers Defeat No. 4 Iowa on the Road, 81-69

Thursday, January 21

Iowa City, Iowa

9 p.m.

Indiana University

9-6,4-4Big Ten

Iowa

12-3,6-2Big Ten

Indiana

Iowa

1/22/2021 12:22:00 AM | Men's Basketball

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By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

IOWA City, Iowa – For Indiana, this is how you respond.

You shock the college basketball world.

Here were the Hoosiers Thursday night, fueled by the memory of a rivalry loss, pushed by a coach who demanded they "draw a line in the sand," unshaken by three weeks of sub-standard defense, delivering a performance to rival if not surpass any of the Archie Miller era.

How impressive was IU in its 81-69 victory at No. 4 Iowa Thursday night?

Consider this:

You turn the nation's best offense into mush (a season low in points, 26-percent second-half shooting). You hit key shows (shooting 60 percent in the second half, a season-best 47.1 percent from three-point range), push till it hurts and play five-as-one to break the will of a team considered a national title contender -- on its home court where it had been 9-0.

"I'm excited our team gets to see the benefits of having a great attitude and working hard," Miller said.

Foul trouble that left forwards Trayce Jackson-Davis and Race Thompson on the bench deep in the second half?

No problem.

Guard Trey Galloway sidelined with an injury?

IU (9-6 overall, 4-4 in the Big Ten) had it covered.

Playing three freshmen – Anthony Leal, Jordan Geronimo and Khristian Lander – at the same high-stakes time?

The Cream 'n Crimson rolled.

"We played hard," Miller said. "A lot of guys contributed. We gave great effort. Offensively we took care of the ball. We moved the ball well against the zone. We were able to crack open the game."

Geronimo was especially impressive battling Iowa superstar Luka Garza on defense while setting a career high with seven points, including two nasty dunks.

"It's the best game he's played as an Indiana player," Miller said.

Added Jackson-Davis: "He's been down on himself. This week we tried to emphasize getting his confidence back up. He was amped up and ready to play. He did a good job against one of the best players in the country."

Why did the Hoosiers thrive in a road setting when they couldn't do it last week against Purdue at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall?

Tough coaching and practicing.

"We had to draw the line in the sand in how we're working," Miller said. "We had to challenge some guys. Guys challenged each other.

"It's being accountable. Doing your job. Being where you're supposed to be."

This was a game for all Hoosiers (eight players scored, led by Jackson-Davis' 23 points and Rob Phinisee's 18), and it went way beyond numbers.

"You can't ever give up," Jackson-Davis said. "We got stops. Our defense had to rise. We did that really well."

IU faced a 92-point-a-game offense boosted by extra preparation after last Sunday's Michigan State was postponed because of the Spartans' Covid-19 issues.

It showed.

"That week off really helped us," Jackson-Davis said. "It was more of a reset. After the Purdue loss, we were kind of a lost team. Our defensive intensity raised. Coach was not allowing slippage in practice."

Phinisee set the defensive perimeter tone, with a lot of help from fellow guards Aljami Durham and Armaan Franklin.

"Rob had one of the best defensive performances of his career," Miller said. "He was unbelievable on the ball. The same with Armaan and Al."

When it mattered most, IU made Iowa's offense disappear. The Hawkeyes (12-3, 6-2) went 11 second-half minutes without scoring a basket, in part because the Hoosiers contested everything but breathing.

"Our guys were locked in and gave great effort," Miller said. "We've shown when we're locked in, we can defend."

Iowa's Garza and Joe Wieskamp punished Indiana inside and out in the first half (they combined for 30 points). The Hoosiers stayed within range behind Phinisee, Jackson-Davis and Franklin (a combined 22 points).

Even with Jackson-Davis and Thompson in trouble (two each), IU didn't flinch. It trailed 37-31 at halftime to give itself a chance.

Jackson-Davis asserted himself early in the second half with a nine-point surge. Still, IU trailed 46-41 with 15 minutes remaining.

Thompson's aggressive defense on Garza came with a fouling price. He picked up two more fouls in the first seven minutes to head to the bench.

IU countered with a relentlessly attacking Jackson-Davis. Add a Leal three-pointer and the Hoosiers had a 9-0 run to forge a 53-53 tie with nine minutes left.

A minute later, Jackson-Davis picked up his fourth foul against Garza, who hit both free throws for a 55-53 Hawkeye lead.

Indiana seemed on the verge of another second-half fade.

Instead, it roared back with a Geronimo basket, then a Durham jumper and then a Franklin 3-pointer.

IU led 60-55 and a furious Hawkeye coach Fran McCaffrey called a timeout.

It didn't help.

The Hoosiers kept up the pressure. Geronimo dunked. Jerome Hunter made a layup. Phinisee drained a three-pointer. IU led 67-56 as the clock ticked under three minutes.

The Hawkeyes were finished and the Hoosiers, it seemed, were just getting started.

"At some point, Miller said, "you do what you want to do in a game every day."