Indiana University
14-7,5-5Big Ten
Maryland
16-5,6-4Big Ten
Sunday Setback in Bloomington
1/26/2025 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Redshirt sophomore point guard Myles Rice took responsibility. He put it on his shoulders that Indiana's final play, the one on which victory or defeat ultimately depended Sunday afternoon at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, didn't work out.
"It's on me," he said in the aftermath of the 79-78 loss to Maryland. "I have to make sure we know what we're doing. I'll take the heat. Everything happens so fast. As the point guard, it's up to me to be cool, calm and collected."
Rice paused; reflected on his missed contested 3-pointer that ended the Hoosiers' victory hopes.
"We have to do better. I have to be better."
IU, which rallied from a late 10-point deficit to get on the verge of victory, which shot 48% from the field and committed just seven turnovers, lost for fourth time in five games to fall to 14-7 overall, 5-5 in the Big Ten.
"We did everything we were supposed to do to get back in the game," head coach Mike Woodson said. "We just didn't finish,"
In a game that featured nine lead changes and three ties, little things mattered. A missed front end of a bonus. Failure to foul when IU had a foul to give. A final play not executed to instruction amid a flurry of substitutions. They all cost the Hoosiers in the closing minutes and it hurt.
"We had our opportunities," Woodson said. "We've got to make plays down the stretch. I've got to get them to understand that. It's just the little things we didn't execute."
IU has five days to regroup before a Friday night trip to No. 11/12 Purdue (16-5, 8-2). It has 10 games – including top-25 teams Michigan State, Michigan and Wisconsin in the next two weeks -- left to make a big final push.
"These next four games are against really good teams," guard Anthony Leal said. "If we're able to string some wins together, it changes everything. We'll try to win all of them."
The Hoosiers rocked Maryland (16-5, 6-4) with a late 10-0 run on five-straight made shots to build a 75-70 lead with three minutes left. Leal's three-point play made it 78-74 with 38 seconds remaining.
It wasn't enough.
"It's a game of runs," said Leal, whose six points all came in crunch time. "We know we'll go on runs and they'll go on runs. It's who can handle those punches and keep fighting. It's not getting hung up on the good and bad. Stay focused on the next play."
Maryland's 12 3-point baskets were capped by Rodney Rice's game winner with seven seconds left. IU has given up at least 11 3-pointers in five straight games. Rodney Rice led the Terps with five 3-pointers and 23 points.
"They got two or three in transition," Myles Rice said. "They also hit some tough shots. It's important to get back, match up with someone and take that away."
Added Woodson: "A couple of times we lost guys. A couple of times we were right there and they still hit them. We have to get better in guarding the three ball."
Rice and junior forward Mackenzie Mgbako each had 16 points for IU. Sixth-year center Oumar Ballo added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Junior forward Malik Reneau, still recovering from an injury that sidelined him for five games, started with Ballo to counter Maryland's imposing big men of Julian Reese and Derik Queen. Reneau finished with 10 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes.
"Getting Malik back was a plus," Woodson said. "He's lost a lot of his conditioning, and when you play teams like Maryland, teams like Purdue, you have to play big.
"Malik came on at the end and showed some fight considering he hadn't played. We have to get him in better conditioning. See if he can help us finish these last 10 games."
Senior forward Luke Goode, who had started in place of Reneau, had eight points and two rebounds in 17 minutes.
"Goode played his butt off and made plays," Woodson said.
Ballo and Reneau opened the game with layups. Ballo added a dunk off a Rice assist. Mgbako followed with five-straight points to push IU ahead 11-10 after four minutes.
Another Mgbako basket and then a follow-up basket from sophomore guard Kanaan Carlyle - off a Goode miss - gave IU a 19-16 lead and forced a Maryland timeout at the 11:33 mark.
The Terrapins scored seven-straight points before Ballo hit a pair of free throws for a 23-21 Maryland lead.
IU ended the half with a pair of free throws each from Goode and Rice to trail 38-37. Ballo, Mgbako and Goode combined for 27 points and 11 rebounds. The half featured seven lead changes and two ties.
Maryland scored the first four points of the second half to force a quick Woodson timeout. The Hoosiers responded with hustle and energy. Ballo dove on the floor for a steal that led to a Rice basket. Reneau battled for an offensive rebound and basket.
Still, the Terps surged to a pair of nine-point leads. Only five Mgbako points and a Rice layup prevented it from being worse. Maryland built a 10-point lead with nine minutes left.
Rice hit a pair of 3-point field goals. Reneau powered in a second-chance layup, and then another layup. The lead was down to 64-63 with seven minutes left.
A steal and a Leal three-point play tied the score at 70-70. A Rice 3-pointer and a Reneau two-point basket made it 75-70. A Leal three-point play pushed IU ahead 78-74. Five straight Maryland points followed for its lead. The Hoosiers had 5.6 seconds left for victory.
It wasn't enough.
"It's a tough game," Woodson said. "Any time you lose, it's tough to swallow. I don't like to lose at all. They don't like losing. I've got to help them more. We have to bounce back."
