Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
15-6,6-4Big Ten
Ohio State
11-10,3-7Big Ten
Hoosiers Beat Buckeyes for Fifth Straight Win
1/28/2023 10:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Jalen Hood-Schifino doesn't rattle or doubt easily, even when under the weather.
Ohio State paid the price.
The freshman point guard shook off recent shooting struggles with veteran poise and confidence during Saturday night's 86-70 victory at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. A non-Covid illness didn't affect him. He totaled 24 points, made six three-pointers, added three assists, two steals and a block and, in short, played to the point-guard level his coach expects.
"I told him before the game, you've got to play when you're sick," coach Mike Woodson said. "I had some of my best games when I was sick. I can't feel sorry for you. We need you. He performed."
In his previous two games, Hood-Schifino was 3-for-17 from the field. In his last five games, he was 1-for-12 from three-point range. He'd only scored 18 points in the last three games.
On Saturday night, that was as relevant as black-and-white TVs.
Woodson called it a professional approach, which are among the reasons why Hood-Schifino has started the entire season as a freshman.
"Even when he wasn't putting the ball in the hole, he was doing other things," said Woodson, who was back on the sideline after missing Wednesday night's Minnesota victory with Covid. "He's defending He's battling. He's gotten some rebounds."
Hood-Schifino also takes hard coaching.
"When he messes up," Woodson said, "I let him know it. When I challenge him, he listens. He doesn't bark back. He's serious about it."
Freshman forward Malik Reneau, who was a Florida high school teammate of Hood-Schifino, is well aware of that serious approach.
"He's ready to go at any moment," Reneau said. "He prepares mentally and physically. When he gets on a hot streak, we keep supporting him and give him that confidence to keep performing."
The Hoosiers (15-6, 6-4 in the Big Ten) won their fifth straight game, their longest conference winning streak since winning their last five to take the 2016 Big Ten title.
Ohio State (11-10, 3-7) lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Despite missing multiple layups, forward Trayce Jackson-Davis continued his dominating way. He had a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) while adding six assists. Multiple Buckeyes refused to challenge him inside, passing up close shots to get the ball to others. He still blocked two shots and had a steal.
"I think he slowed himself down," Woodson said. "He missed a lot of chippies.
"(Look at his numbers) and that's a man's game. You're not going to make every shot around the bucket, but it puts pressure on the defense guard him. I'm pleased seeing where he finished."
Reneau capitalized on some of Jackson-Davis' misses, plus Ohio State's defensive attention on Jackson-Davis, to total 15 points and eight rebounds. It was his second straight double-figure scoring game and continued a strong seven-game stretch.
"I'm calming down on the court and letting the game come to me," he said.
Freshman forward Kaleb Banks made the most of his 12 minutes with five points and seven rebounds. It was his most action since playing 16 minutes against Jackson State in late November.
"He's been patient with me," Woodson said. "He's been very in tune to what we're doing in practice and walk-throughs. It was time to give him an opportunity, and he shined."
The Hoosiers shot 50 percent from the field and from three-point range in another example of their improved outside shooting from previous seasons.
"It's work and putting in the time," Woodson said. "It started this summer. You feel good when the shot goes up, that it's going in."
Forward Jordan Geronimo didn't play after re-aggravating a previous leg injury. Center Logan Duncombe was sidelined by a non-Covid illness.
Ohio State jumped out to a 9-2 start. Hood-Schifino shot the Hoosiers to a 13-9 advantage, connecting on three three-pointers and a 2-point basket.
Hood-Schifino kept shooting, and scoring. He reached 17 points on 5-for-5 three-point shooting in 10 minutes. Add a Banks layup off an offensive rebound, a pair of Tamar Bates free throws off a technical foul on Ohio State coaches, and then a Reneau basket, and IU led 27-21.
"(Hood-Schifino) got off to a hot start," Woodson said, "and we needed every bit of it. He was the only guy putting the ball in the hole, and his defense stayed solid."
The Buckeyes rallied for a 29-29 tie. Woodson used a timeout to make a defensive point.
"I told them, we're trading buckets. Somebody has to make a (defensive) stand. We got a lot of stops. We made plays in the open court to get the cushion we needed."
IU responded with a 17-1 run for a 46-30 halftime lead. Hood-Schifino led with 20 points and six three-pointers.
"We went on that run," Woodson said, "and that sealed the game."
The Hoosiers scored to open the second half for an 18-point lead. Ohio State responded with a 7-0 run. Forward Race Thompson ended that with a three-point play.
The Buckeyes were finished.
Next up is a Tuesday night trip to Maryland before the Hoosiers host rival and top-ranked Purdue next Saturday.
