Wednesday, March 2
Bloomington, Ind.
7:00 PM
Indiana University
18-11,9-10Big Ten
63
vs
66
Rutgers
17-12,11-8Big Ten
1
2
F
Rutgers
25
41
66
Indiana
32
31
63
Hoosiers Drop Final Home Contest to Rutgers
3/2/2022 9:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Seventy minutes before tipoff of Wednesday night's Senior Night game with major NCAA tourney implications for Indiana and Rutgers, a rainbow glowed over Simon-Skjodt Assembly Hall.
For those who saw basketball life in Cream 'n Crimson terms, it was a sign.
The big question -- of what?
Three-plus hours later, the answer glowed from the huge state-of-the-art scoreboard above Branch McCracken Court:
Rutgers 66, Indiana 63.
Seconds after Hoosier senior guard Parker Stewart appeared to force overtime with a tying three-pointer, Rutgers forward Ron Harper Jr. hit the game winner.
That spoiled the Senior Night moment for Stewart and Race Thompson and dropped the Hoosiers to 18-11 overall, 9-10 in the Big Ten with the regular season finale at Purdue on Saturday, and then next week's conference tourney in Indianapolis.
"It hurts," coach Mike Woodson said. "You want to win for Race and Parker.
"It's a special night for them. I remember playing my last game in this build and wining a Big Ten title.
"We fell short. Give Rutgers credit. They've beaten some good teams.''
It was IU's sixth loss by either overtime or by eight or fewer points.
Still, don't tell Jackson-Davis the Hoosiers can't win close games. They have, most memorably against Purdue, 68-65.
"Obviously, we're not finishing games, but we're in every game," Jackson-Davis said. "It comes down to the last four minutes, we've got to get that one stop. You've got to get that one possession, because that one possession can beat you.
"Down the stretch, that's what we've got to hone in on. We've got to get one stop. We've got to get one bucket to finish the game."
IU had punished the Scarlet Knights (17-12, 11-8) in the first half by going inside to Jackson-Davis and Thompson.
Rutgers took that away in the second half, and the Hoosiers lacked the perimeter firepower to take advantage. Stewart and Miller Kopp combined for 3-for-16 shooting. Guards Xavier Johnson, Rob Phinisee and Tamar Bates combined for 6-for-16.
"Trayce was beating the double teams early," Woodson said. "They sagged and forced us to make shots. We had good looks. We just didn't knock them down.
"I went with senior guys in a critical game and we fell a little short."
Jackson-Davis led with 19 points and nine rebounds. Thompson added 12 points.
Harper Jr, who had beaten Purdue with a half-court shot earlier in the season, finished with 19 points.
"I though Race played good defense," Jackson-Davis said about Harper's game-winning shot. "Ron hit a tough shot. There's only so much you can do."
Added Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell: "We made the big stops when we had to. Made the big plays."
IU and Rutgers met for the first time this season with major postseason implications given both projected on the NCAA tourney bubble.
What did the loss do to Hoosier chances?
"I don't know," Woodson said. "Purdue is next. If we win that big game, it puts us back in the mix.
"I have no idea of the selection. We'll probably have to win some games in the Big Ten tourney. It's not over. We have to keep fighting."
Added Jackson-Davis: "Purdue is what we're worried about. After that, it's the Big Ten Tournament. When that's all said and down, then we'll talk about the NCAA Tournament."
IU bolted to a 14-6 lead behind 55.6 percent shooting and a 7-1 rebounding edge. Jackson-Davis had nine of those points. Thompson had five.
A minute later, Jackson-Davis added a steal and dunk as the Hoosiers showcased their Big Ten-leading defense. Only a pair of three-pointers kept Rutgers within early range, trailing 16-12.
IU couldn't build a bigger lead, and Rutgers couldn't earn one of its own.
With 10 seconds left in the half, Jordan Geronimo hit a tough turnaround jumper to push the Hoosiers ahead 32-22. Geo Baker responded with a long three-pointer to cut IU's lead to seven at halftime.
Jackson-Davis led with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Rutgers actually shot better – 48 percent to 41 percent – but the Hoosiers were 6-for-7 from the line to the Scarlet Knights 0-for-4.
IU pushed ahead 37-28 three minutes into the second half. Rutgers pushed back with a 10-0 run thanks in part to four Hoosier turnovers.
Then Thompson scored. Johnson followed with a steal, a basket and a free throw, then another steal and a dunk for a 44-38 score.
Indiana was restored Cream 'n Crimson order.
Then it was lost. With five minutes left, the score was tied at 52-52.
Geronimo hit a short jumper. Rutgers tied it. Johnson hit a long two-pointer, then helped force a Scarlet Knights turnover, but the Hoosiers couldn't capitalize.
Baker responded with his third three-pointer for a 57-56 Rutgers lead as the clock ticked under two minutes. The Scarlet Knights' Clifford Omoruyi, a 60-percent percent free throw shooter, made a pair of them. IU countered with two from Jackson-Davis.
Omoruyi hit two more free throws for a 61-58 score. With 19.2 seconds left, a foul was called on Johnson and a flagrant 2 foul called on Rutgers' Paul Mulcahy, who was ejected.
Aundre Hyatt hit two free throws for a 63-58 Rutgers lead. Kopp hit the two technical free throws to cut the lead to three, and IU had the ball.
Stewart missed one wide open three-pointer, but hit a second to tie the score. Harper Jr. then hit the game winner.
"We have to clean up this game and see where we can get better," Woodson said. "Then we'll start on Purdue."
******
In the post-game Senior Night ceremony, Stewart and Thompson were honored.
In his speech, Thompson thanked his parents, his teammates (calling them his "brothers for life"), his coaches, managers, doctors and the fans.
He thanked Woodson for "Making me a captain and pushing me every day" and associate head coach Dane Fife for "really pushing me to be a leader."
"I love you all."
Added Jackson-Davis: "He's my guy. Seeing him maybe play his last game here, we tried to pull it out. That's my brother for life."
Stewart, in a video presentation, thanked his parents, his mother for driving him to all the events and his father, a college coach who passed away a couple of years ago, "for teaching me to play the game I love."
"To my brothers on this team, we built relationships that will last a lifetime. I look forward to finishing this season strong with my brothers."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Seventy minutes before tipoff of Wednesday night's Senior Night game with major NCAA tourney implications for Indiana and Rutgers, a rainbow glowed over Simon-Skjodt Assembly Hall.
For those who saw basketball life in Cream 'n Crimson terms, it was a sign.
The big question -- of what?
Three-plus hours later, the answer glowed from the huge state-of-the-art scoreboard above Branch McCracken Court:
Rutgers 66, Indiana 63.
Seconds after Hoosier senior guard Parker Stewart appeared to force overtime with a tying three-pointer, Rutgers forward Ron Harper Jr. hit the game winner.
That spoiled the Senior Night moment for Stewart and Race Thompson and dropped the Hoosiers to 18-11 overall, 9-10 in the Big Ten with the regular season finale at Purdue on Saturday, and then next week's conference tourney in Indianapolis.
"It hurts," coach Mike Woodson said. "You want to win for Race and Parker.
"It's a special night for them. I remember playing my last game in this build and wining a Big Ten title.
"We fell short. Give Rutgers credit. They've beaten some good teams.''
It was IU's sixth loss by either overtime or by eight or fewer points.
Still, don't tell Jackson-Davis the Hoosiers can't win close games. They have, most memorably against Purdue, 68-65.
"Obviously, we're not finishing games, but we're in every game," Jackson-Davis said. "It comes down to the last four minutes, we've got to get that one stop. You've got to get that one possession, because that one possession can beat you.
"Down the stretch, that's what we've got to hone in on. We've got to get one stop. We've got to get one bucket to finish the game."
IU had punished the Scarlet Knights (17-12, 11-8) in the first half by going inside to Jackson-Davis and Thompson.
Rutgers took that away in the second half, and the Hoosiers lacked the perimeter firepower to take advantage. Stewart and Miller Kopp combined for 3-for-16 shooting. Guards Xavier Johnson, Rob Phinisee and Tamar Bates combined for 6-for-16.
"Trayce was beating the double teams early," Woodson said. "They sagged and forced us to make shots. We had good looks. We just didn't knock them down.
"I went with senior guys in a critical game and we fell a little short."
Jackson-Davis led with 19 points and nine rebounds. Thompson added 12 points.
Harper Jr, who had beaten Purdue with a half-court shot earlier in the season, finished with 19 points.
"I though Race played good defense," Jackson-Davis said about Harper's game-winning shot. "Ron hit a tough shot. There's only so much you can do."
Added Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell: "We made the big stops when we had to. Made the big plays."
IU and Rutgers met for the first time this season with major postseason implications given both projected on the NCAA tourney bubble.
What did the loss do to Hoosier chances?
"I don't know," Woodson said. "Purdue is next. If we win that big game, it puts us back in the mix.
"I have no idea of the selection. We'll probably have to win some games in the Big Ten tourney. It's not over. We have to keep fighting."
Added Jackson-Davis: "Purdue is what we're worried about. After that, it's the Big Ten Tournament. When that's all said and down, then we'll talk about the NCAA Tournament."
IU bolted to a 14-6 lead behind 55.6 percent shooting and a 7-1 rebounding edge. Jackson-Davis had nine of those points. Thompson had five.
A minute later, Jackson-Davis added a steal and dunk as the Hoosiers showcased their Big Ten-leading defense. Only a pair of three-pointers kept Rutgers within early range, trailing 16-12.
IU couldn't build a bigger lead, and Rutgers couldn't earn one of its own.
With 10 seconds left in the half, Jordan Geronimo hit a tough turnaround jumper to push the Hoosiers ahead 32-22. Geo Baker responded with a long three-pointer to cut IU's lead to seven at halftime.
Jackson-Davis led with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Rutgers actually shot better – 48 percent to 41 percent – but the Hoosiers were 6-for-7 from the line to the Scarlet Knights 0-for-4.
IU pushed ahead 37-28 three minutes into the second half. Rutgers pushed back with a 10-0 run thanks in part to four Hoosier turnovers.
Then Thompson scored. Johnson followed with a steal, a basket and a free throw, then another steal and a dunk for a 44-38 score.
Indiana was restored Cream 'n Crimson order.
Then it was lost. With five minutes left, the score was tied at 52-52.
Geronimo hit a short jumper. Rutgers tied it. Johnson hit a long two-pointer, then helped force a Scarlet Knights turnover, but the Hoosiers couldn't capitalize.
Baker responded with his third three-pointer for a 57-56 Rutgers lead as the clock ticked under two minutes. The Scarlet Knights' Clifford Omoruyi, a 60-percent percent free throw shooter, made a pair of them. IU countered with two from Jackson-Davis.
Omoruyi hit two more free throws for a 61-58 score. With 19.2 seconds left, a foul was called on Johnson and a flagrant 2 foul called on Rutgers' Paul Mulcahy, who was ejected.
Aundre Hyatt hit two free throws for a 63-58 Rutgers lead. Kopp hit the two technical free throws to cut the lead to three, and IU had the ball.
Stewart missed one wide open three-pointer, but hit a second to tie the score. Harper Jr. then hit the game winner.
"We have to clean up this game and see where we can get better," Woodson said. "Then we'll start on Purdue."
******
In the post-game Senior Night ceremony, Stewart and Thompson were honored.
In his speech, Thompson thanked his parents, his teammates (calling them his "brothers for life"), his coaches, managers, doctors and the fans.
He thanked Woodson for "Making me a captain and pushing me every day" and associate head coach Dane Fife for "really pushing me to be a leader."
"I love you all."
Added Jackson-Davis: "He's my guy. Seeing him maybe play his last game here, we tried to pull it out. That's my brother for life."
Stewart, in a video presentation, thanked his parents, his mother for driving him to all the events and his father, a college coach who passed away a couple of years ago, "for teaching me to play the game I love."
"To my brothers on this team, we built relationships that will last a lifetime. I look forward to finishing this season strong with my brothers."
Team Stats
RU
IND
FG%
.471
.411
3FG%
.444
.286
FT%
.625
.786
RB
33
31
TO
13
9
STL
6
7
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
3
Pts
6
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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