Indiana Uses Second Half Surge to Win at Ohio State

Tuesday, February 6

Columbus, Ohio

7:00 PM

Indiana University

14-9,6-6Big Ten

Ohio State

13-10,3-9Big Ten

Team	1	2	F
Indiana	29	47	76
Ohio St.	42	31	73

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2/6/2024 9:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Sometimes, you have to be tougher than the other guy.

Sometimes, you have to believe, push, and push some more until the other guy breaks.

Sometimes, if you're the Indiana Hoosiers facing an 18-point, second-half, on-the-road deficit after a series of recent disappointing performances, you block it all out and do what needs to be done.

And then you win, 76-73, at Ohio State.

That means 25 points (19 in the second half), six rebounds, four assists, and huge leadership from senior guard Trey Galloway.

"Trey stepped up," coach Mike Woodson told Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer during the post-game radio show. "He wanted the ball. We ran a lot of different actions that got him the ball to make plays. He came through. It was nice to see."

That means 26 points, 14 rebounds from sophomore forward Malik Reneau.

That means six points (all in crunch time), six rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and two steals from senior guard Anthony Leal, including the game winning 3-pointer with 22 seconds left, plus the two clinching free throws, plus enough little-things-matter plays to fill a highlight video (which happened courtesy of the Big Ten Network).

It means, in the final eight minutes, stifling defense, efficient offense, and the sense that maybe, just maybe, a big regular-season-ending run is coming.

"They didn't quit," Woodson told Fischer. "They kept fighting.

"We held (Ohio State) to 31 points in the second half. It was our defense and rebounding that made the plays we needed to make to get back in it."

That included, while trailing 73-71, Galloway driving into the heart of the Ohio State defense, then passing to an open Leal in the corner for the decisive 3-point basket.

"Gallo was phenomenal down the stretch," Woodson told Fischer. "Him and Malik. Then Anthony hits the biggest shot of the night."

IU's late 10-0 run from a 12-point deficit gave it a crunch-time chance. Its turnovers stopped (nine in the first half, two in the second). Its defense tightened and its offense thrived. In the final 20 minutes, it made 4-of-6 3-pointers and 11-of-14 free throws.

The Hoosiers (14-9 overall, 6-6 in the Big Ten) did all the things it didn't do during Saturday's disappointing home loss to Penn State.

"Guys were down," Woodson told Fischer. "But it's still a long season. We have eight more Big Ten games left. There's a lot of basketball to be played. There's no room for getting down."

Ohio State (13-10, 3-9), which came in with seven losses in its last eight games, couldn't stop the Hoosiers when it matter most.

IU needed just five seconds to score -- a Ware dunk. Shooting struggles followed, but the Hoosiers made up for it on the free throw line (6-for-8) to forge a 13-13 tie after eight minutes.

Poor shooting and turnovers continued. The Buckeyes capitalized with a 9-0 run for a 25-15 lead with eight minutes left in the half.

IU hit four straight shots to dent Ohio State's 13-point lead but couldn't break it. By halftime, the Hoosiers trailed 42-29 despite Reneau's 10 points and nine rebounds.

Ohio State scored the first five points of the second half to build an 18-point lead.

The game seemed over.

In fact, it had just begun.

Ware ended that run with a dunk. Galloway followed with consecutive baskets, including a 3-pointer. He and Reneau alternated scores to keep IU within range.

It cut the lead to nine, then eight as the clock ticked under 11:30. Ware picked up his fourth foul. No matter. Galloway hit a pair of free throws, then buried a 3-pointer. Mackenzie Mgbako made two free throws. Reneau hit a free throw. Galloway scored. The Hoosiers trailed 65-63 with five minutes left.

Galloway had a steal. Leal had a steal and rebound and then a free throw. Ware scored inside. The Hoosiers inched ahead 71-69. Ohio State tied it with 1:40 left.

IU had a shot-clock violation. Ohio State's Jamison Battle hit a pair of free throws -- making him 10-for-10 in the game and 25-for-25 in Big Ten play -- for a 73-71 lead.

Leal buried a 3-pointer off a Galloway assist for a 74-73 lead with 22 seconds left. The Hoosiers forced a steal. Ware missed a layup, but Leal grabbed the offensive rebound, and was fouled with 2.9 seconds left. He made both free throws.

Victory was clinched and momentum renewed, with this caution from Woodson after seeing four Hoosiers pick up four fouls and a trip to No. 2 Purdue coming on Saturday night.

"We were fouling too much," Woodson told Fischer. "We have to learn from that. Go back to practice and start preparing for Purdue."