Indiana Pushes No. 8/9 Purdue to Wire, Falls 69-67

Saturday, March 5

West Lafayette, Ind.

2:00 PM

Indiana University

18-12,9-11Big Ten

Purdue

25-6,14-6Big Ten

Indiana

Purdue

Indiana Pushes No. 8/9 Purdue to Wire, Falls 69-67

3/5/2022 4:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Once again, victory was there for the taking.

Once again, Indiana couldn't take it.

With NCAA tourney opportunity at stake, amid the frenzy of a sold-out Mackey Arena, the Hoosiers did everything but win on Saturday afternoon.

They defended Purdue into sub-40-percent shooting. Forward Miller Kopp found a shooting stroke not seen since November's 28-point effort at Syracuse. Guard Xavier Johnson had a double-double with 18 points and a career-high 12 assists, plus three steals. IU was 10-for-10 from the line, and consistently got open looks from the field.

It wasn't enough.

"Our pick-and-roll offense was the best it's been all season," coach Woodson said. "We got a bunch of good looks."

Good looks didn't translate into enough makes (43.3 overall shooting), but the Hoosiers still had a chance until the clock hit zero.

"I am pleased with the way competed," Woodson said. "It's a tough building to win in."

The Hoosiers (18-12 overall, 9-11 in the Big Ten) lost for the second straight game and seventh time in the last nine games. They reached the final minute with a chance to win in five of those losses.

"We have to figure it out," Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. "We were right there."

In a game that featured six ties and four lead changes, IU rallied from deficits as large as 13 in the first half and nine in the second to take a four-point lead deep into crunch time.

It wasn't enough.

"We have to figure it out," Woodson said again.

Purdue had a 15-2 edge in second-chance points thanks to a 14-8 advantage in offensive rebounds.

"I thought they got all the 50-50 balls," Woodson said. "That was a big discussion before the game.

"When you're on the road, you have to win the 50-50 balls. They out-toughed us in that area."

Johnson continued his strong play. In his last five games, he's averaged 19.0 points, 6.4 assists and 3.6 rebounds while going 9-for-20 from three-point range and 28-for-32 from the line.

"He was solid," Woodson told Fischer.

With four minutes left, Indiana trailed by one, at 61-60. With 1:40 left, it trailed by two, at 67-65.

Parker Stewart missed an open three-pointer that could have given the Hoosiers the lead. They committed a turnover with a late chance to tie or take the lead.

"Parker had a wide-open three that could have been a dagger," Woodson told Fischer. "He missed that one, but we were still there."

Once again, shooting cost IU. Kopp was 4-for-6 from three-point range en route to 14 points. The rest of the Hoosiers were 1-for-14.

"It's not like we haven't gotten good looks," Woodson told Fischer. "All of our shooters have had good looks. They have to relax and make them.

"I'm going to keep coaching and try to put them in the best position possible. Eventually, I think they will come through."

Indiana and Purdue (25-6, 14-6) split the season series. The Hoosiers beat the Boilers at Simon Skdjodt Assembly Hall 68-65 in late January.

"That's what you expect when you play Purdue," Woodson told Fischer. "The same thing happened at our place, but we were able to figure it out down the stretch to win it. This could have gone either way.

"Our guys fought and played their butts off."

Down the stretch, Purdue got just enough from the free throw line (14-for-21) to survive.

"We put them on the free throw line and we had to make shots," Woodson told Fischer. "We had to execute our halfcourt game and they were going to the line shooting free throws. That was the difference."

Forward Race Thompson's nine early points helped IU to a 14-14 tie.

Then the Hoosiers missed six straight shots, guard Eric Hunter Jr. got hot and Purdue surged to a 29-16 lead.

Johnson took charge. He was the catalyst for IU's 9-0, half-closing run to make it a 33-29 halftime score. He had eight points, three assists and a rebound. He scored or had an assist on the Hoosiers' final 11 points.

Purdue made just one of its last eight shots of the half, in part because the Hoosiers took away the paint.

The second half opened with fierce intensity from both teams. Purdue hit the offensive boards to twice push ahead by nine. Indiana pushed back behind Kopp's two three-pointers and Johnson's offensive-and-defensive playmaking.

IU unleashed an 11-0 run for a 51-48 lead. Kopp hit his third three-pointer of the half for a 56-52 lead.

Purdue responded with a 7-0 run to retake the lead. It went ahead by three, then five. Trayce Jackson-Davis finished a three-point play. Kopp hit a tough jumper.

IU trailed 67-65. It had the ball as the clock ticked to 12 seconds. Purdue forced a turnover. The Boilers' Trevion Williams hit two free throws for a 69-65 lead. Johnson hit two with six seconds. Williams missed two free throws. Johnson missed a 30-footer under a lot of contact. No foul was called.

The Hoosiers had lost another heartbreaker. They are the ninth seed in next week's Big Ten tourney and will play Thursday morning at Indianapolis' Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

"X could have taken a couple more dribbles and try to make a play," Woodson told Fischer, "but that's how it goes. We have to get ready for the tournament."

IU's NCAA tourney hopes come down to this week. The conference tourney winner earns an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.

How many games do the Hoosiers need to win to earn an at-large bid?

"Only time will tell," Woodson said.