Indiana Falls to No. 4/5 Ohio State in Columbus, 78-59

Saturday, February 13

Columbus, Ohio

Noon

Indiana University

Ohio State

Indiana Falls to No. 4/5 Ohio State in Columbus, 78-59

2/13/2021 3:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By: Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Reality hit hard, and Indiana had no Saturday answer.

Not against Ohio State's growing juggernaut.

The Cream and Crimson goal -- get back up and hit harder the next time.

That will be Wednesday against former top-25 Minnesota.

"We have to learn from it and get better," coach Archie Miller said. "Minnesota is our biggest game. That's what matters. Our approach can't be any different from that."

Ohio State got physical, as it always does and, in the end, forward Trayce Jackson-Davis said, the Hoosiers buckled … and learned.

"(The Buckeyes) were getting to their spots," he said. "Their guards were really crashing. Their post players were getting position on us. Our defense collapsed.

"As the game went on, we got soft. We aren't soft. We have to work harder and push harder for the next game."

The No. 4 Buckeyes (17-4 overall, 11-4 in the Big Ten) won for the sixth straight time and ninth time in 10 games.

"Ohio State is a terrific team," Miller said. "We knew that coming in. There's a reason why they've climbed the ladder. They have tremendous balance."

Indiana (11-9, 6-7) was aiming for its first three-game winning streak of the season.

"It was the physicality of the game," Miller said. "We knew it would be the biggest challenge. They can ruffle and rattle you.

"The was nothing we could do to stop them from physically overwhelming us."

The Hoosiers fell behind 21-6, nearly identical to the 21-7 early deficit they'd faced a few days earlier against Northwestern. They'd also faced an early double-digit deficit against Iowa. They'd rallied to win both games.

But the Buckeyes are at a different level, and it showed.

"We're mindful that our starts have been slow," Miller said. "A lot of it has to do with easy baskets we're not converting. We have a couple of point-blank shots we have to make.

"When you get down like that, it's hard when you're playing a team this good."

Ohio State out-shot (48 to 42 percent) and out-rebounded (36-28) the Hoosiers, and had a 21-11 edge in points off turnovers.

"When you play Ohio State, they are physical on the ball," Miller said. "Our guards' inability to draw assists, pass it and share it on drives hurt us.

"We got worked on the boards. We can't play with 15 turnovers."

At times four Buckeyes swarmed Jackson-Davis, but he battled through it for 23 points on 10-for-14 shooting with nine rebounds. Still, his recent tendency to start slow remains a point of emphasis.

"It's mental," he said. "It gets in my head. Early on I got taken out. That cleared my head. I was ready to go when I got back in.

"I have to get that out of the way. Take my time at the rim and finish the shots. I did better as the game progressed."

Added Miller: "Trayce is coachable. He's been a slow starter lately, then picks up momentum as the game goes on.

"He has to be a faster starter. He's the focus of the defense. He'll come around with it."

Swingman Jerome Hunter came off the bench for 10 points and two rebounds.

Ohio State physicality dominated early. After a pair of Armaan Franklin and Aljami Durham 3-pointers, the Buckeyes took charge with a 19-0 run and that 21-6 lead. IU was 2-for-11 from the field with six turnovers in that stretch.

Jackson-Davis ended that drought with a free throw, and then a dunk.

Hunter delivered nine points and a rebound in an eight-minute stretch to keep the Hoosiers in it. Add a pair of Durham and Race Thompson free throws, plus a Jackson-Davis basket, and the lead was down to five at down 31-26.

But Ohio State finished with a 38-28 halftime lead. Twelve of its points came off of IU's eight turnovers.

A mini surge got the Hoosiers within six early in the second half. Franklin picked up his third foul and came out. Freshman Trey Galloway replaced him.

A couple of Hoosier turnovers helped Ohio State push ahead by 14. IU never threatened again.

"We have to play more forceful on the backboard," Miller said. "We have to be more physical around the rim, score better there. When we drive, we have to be strong with the ball. We can't have it raked out.

"Maybe it is getting in weight room better. Ohio State is the most physical team you'll play all year. If you can't match it, that's how they beat you."