Hoosiers Take Care of Maryland

Thursday, February 24

Bloomington, Ind.

7:00 PM

Indiana University

17-10,8-9Big Ten

Maryland

13-15,5-12Big Ten

Maryland

Indiana

2/24/2022 9:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – How do you explain this, Xavier Johnson's ability to find peaks after valleys, to own mistakes and grow from them, to stay strong when others buckle?

The quick answer -- social media.

The in-depth answer -- fierce resiliency.

No matter how much heat Indiana's junior guard takes, from fans, from his coach, from his own competitive nature, he keeps coming back, keeps finding ways to make a difference.

Consider what he did against Maryland during Thursday night's 74-64 victory under what was, in so many ways, must-win pressure.

Johnson slammed a dunk that likely still has the basket shaking. He was 7-for-8 from the line, making him 17-for-18 over the past two games. He hit all seven of his shots from the field, three from beyond the arc. He defended as if his next five meals depending on it; attacked until it hurt; passed into openings Maryland had no chance stopping.

He finished with a season-high 24 points, plus six assists and a steal, to help end IU's five-game losing streak.

"When he plays like that," forward Race Thompson said, "we're hard to beat.

"When you get X going, that's the head of the snake. You might say Trayce (Jackson-Davis) is the head, but it's really X. We go as he goes. He gets everybody involved and everybody shots."

Added Johnson: "I was taking smart shots and not forcing things. Trying to get downhill and get my teammates the ball."

This is what coach Mike Woodson had envisioned when Johnson transferred after three solid years at Pitt.

"X means well. He wants to be great. He competes. That's what he does. He's had his ups and downs. I'm pleased with how he's played. He's come a long way."

Adding to Johnson's burden was the fact IU's other point guards -- Rob Phinisee, Khristian Lander and Trey Galloway -- were sidelined with injuries.

"We needed it," Woodson added. "Our other point guards were sitting next to me. For him to step up like he did, I couldn't ask for a better performance."

This was a huge turnaround from his previous two games, when Johnson was 6-for-28 from the field with nine turnovers.

Social media turned ferocious.

He noticed.

"I see a lot of what people say," he said. "I am an emotional player. I read it. It doesn't matter, but at the end of the day, I see it. It's a motivator. It's a matter of how you use it."

Woodson would prefer Johnson -- and all the Hoosiers -- wouldn't use it at all.

"All these players put pressure on themselves," Woodson said. "Staying away from social media might be a lot better.

"I couldn't tell you what people are saying. I don't have time for that. My time is spent watching film and getting prepared to play. These guys should do the same. I tell them to leave social media alone and concentrate on basketball and their studies."

Crunch time arrived at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and Indiana (17-10 overall, 8-9 in the Big Ten) was, at last, in take-no-prisoners mode.

After blowing leads against top-25 teams Wisconsin and Ohio State in the previous nine days, it thrived behind nasty defense (converting Maryland's 16 turnovers into 22 points), dominating play from Johnson and Thompson (19 points, nine rebounds) and a let's-have-fun ferocity the Terrapins (13-15, 5-12) couldn't match, highlighted by a 44-24 edge in points in the paint.

The losing streak was history. NCAA tourney hopes were restored.

"The weight is off our shoulders," Thompson said. "We have to play with a chip. We have to keep building.

"We played well. We have been playing well. We have to play 40 minutes, not 38 or 39. We put a full 40 tonight. It feels good to get off that streak, and hopefully we can put a lot more together."

If the Hoosiers do, they could return to the NCAA tourney for the first time since 2016.

"We want to play in the tournament," Thompson said. "None of us have played in it. It's a goal we're all trying to reach as a unit.

"We know we're right there. That gave us motivation. We showed up ready to play."

Thompson scored the game's first four points. In the first seven minutes, Johnson had four points, two assists, two fouls and a turnover.

The Hoosiers led 15-14.

In an unusual sequence, Jordan Geronimo smashed the ball to the floor off a missed Thompson free throw. It soared high into the air and went into the basket. IU led 20-15.

Johnson and Jackson-Davis went out with two fouls. The Hoosiers ratcheted up the defense, picked up the offense (mixing a 20-6 edge in points in the paint with an Anthony Leal three-pointer) and surged ahead 28-18.

It didn't last.

Maryland picked up its own defense for a 9-0 run before Miller Kopp's jumper gave Indiana a 30-27 halftime lead. Eight Hoosiers scored, led by Thompson's seven points.

The Terrapins tied the score 20 seconds into the second half on a three-pointer.

Then Johnson went to work

He tossed a perfect alley-oop lob pass for a Jackson-Davis dunk; made a pair of free throws and slammed home a ferocious dunk. Add a Thompson layup off a Parker Stewart steal and the Hoosiers led 38-30.

After a Maryland dunk, Kopp hit a pair of free throws. Thompson scored from the paint. IU had restored its 10-point lead.

Thirty seconds later, the Terrapins had cut that lead in half. A Johnson three-pointer helped push the Hoosiers ahead 47-37.

Another Johnson three-pointer, and his assist on a fast-break Kopp dunk, held off a Maryland surge.

IU had control it never lost.

"This was a big win for our team," Woodson said. "When you lose five straight, you're searching, trying to figure out when are we going to stop the bleeding.

"These guys are not quitting. They're competing every night. That's all as coaches we can ask. They answered the bell, big time."