Indiana Wins Regular Season Finale Over Ohio State

Saturday, March 8

Bloomington, Ind.

3:45 p.m.

Indiana University

19-12,10-10Big Ten

Ohio State

17-14,9-11Big Ten

Ohio St.

Indiana

Indiana Wins Regular Season Finale Over Ohio State

3/8/2025 8:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Postseason intensity arrived with eardrum-bursting decibel force at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

Indiana surged; Ohio State faded.

When it was over Saturday, when deficits as large as 10 points in the second half were overcome amid raucous, the Hoosiers had a 66-60 Senior Day victory and potential postseason momentum.

"We're not done yet," guard Trey Galloway said. "We have to focus on that."

Who had time to sit? The Hoosiers, winners of five of their last seven games, were too busy saving their NCAA tourney at-large bid hopes. Their 12-0 crunch-time run -- highlighted by a 27-foot three-pointer from guard Trey Galloway -- blasted past a five-point deficit and gave them an opening round bye in next week's Big Ten tourney in Indianapolis.

"We've known we have what it takes in the locker room," senior forward Luke Goode said. "We have the right guys with the right mentality. When we have a collective effort, it all comes together into something good."

IU (19-12 overall, 10-10 in the Big Ten) will play Oregon (23-8, 12-8) Thursday at noon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Ducks won their only meeting last week, 73-64.

"We have an opportunity to win the Big Ten Tournament," said coach Mike Woodson, who is retiring at the end of the season. "That's all I'm thinking about."

Woodson, who coached in his last home game, limited his retirement comments.

"We've been in the (NCAA tourney) a few times We were able to recruit and graduate good players. I want the program to be successful."

Woodson's last home game as a player also was against Ohio State. The Hoosiers won that game to win the 1980 Big Ten title.

"This was a very emotional game," Woodson said. "I think back to 1980 playing the same team for Big ten title. I wanted it so much for these seniors to win. I knew how special it was for me."

It was special to win for Woodson, guard Anthony Leal said.

"A shout out to Coach Woodson. We're happy to send him out on a win."

IU won despite shooting just 35 percent from the field, just 25 percent on three-pointers. Defense fueled the comeback. Ohio State (17-14, 9-11) didn't make a field goal in the last six minutes, and made only one of its last 11 shots.

"When we were going through scoring ruts," Goode said, "it doesn't matter how well we shoot. We should be able to win an ugly game. To play the defense we did at the end is a testament to how much we've grown as a team."

Galloway and forward Malik Reneau set the offensive tone. They each scored 16 points. Galloway became the 56th Hoosier to score 1,000 career points. His three-pointer, Goode said, was a game-breaker.

"Some of the games we've lost, other teams have hit big shots on us. It was good to see one to go down for us."

Galloway's three-pointer countered player confusion over how much time was left on the shot clock.

"The play broke down," he said. "I trusted my shot."

Leal and Goode set career highs with eight rebounds each as IU won the rebounding battle 40-31.

"They were seniors who didn't want to lose," Woodson said. "I rode them. I didn't take them out at the end."

Senior Day festivities were highlighted by Galloway, Leal, Goode and Oumar Ballo. Also honored were center Langdon Hatton, and guards Jaden Bobbert, Shaun Burke and Jackson Creel, plus team doctor Larry Rink, who was retiring after 45 seasons.

IU opened the game with a Galloway-to-Ballo layup and consecutive defensive stops before Ohio State countered with a three-pointer, and a turnover, and then another turnover. A Galloway-to Ballo-dunk followed.

Eight minutes produced a 9-9 tie. A 6-0 Ohio State run, fueled by an IU 1-for-12 shooting slump, forced a Woodson timeout. Guard Myles Rice responded with a three-pointer.

Swingman Mackenzie Mgbako hustled for an offensive rebound and basket. Reneau rebounded his own miss for a basket. Still, the Buckeyes shot their way to a 26-17 lead.

Galloway hit a floater. Goode made a pair of free throws. IU reached halftime trailing 29-25. Galloway led with seven points and three assists.

The Hoosiers opened the second half with a defensive stop and a Goode three-pointer. Ohio State countered with its own three-pointer.

Ohio State pushed ahead 39-32, then 43-34, then 46-36 with 12 minutes left in the game. IU responded with a Leal layup off a Galloway pass, and a Galloway three-pointer. The crowd roared.

Leal's ferocious defense forced a Buckeye flagrant foul and two free throws, which he made. Another Ohio State foul produced two Goode free throws and a 49-49 tie with 8:15 left. Two Reneau free throws pushed the Hoosiers ahead 51-50.

Six straight free throws gave the Buckeyes a 56-51 lead with 4:31 left. Galloway came back with a three-pointer after Ohio State fumbled a rebound out of bounds. The Hoosiers forced a turnover. Four straight Reneau free throws, then a 27-foot Galloway three-pointer followed by two Goode free throws pushed IU ahead 63-56 as the clock ticked under one minute.

The Buckeyes were finished.

During a post-game TV interview, Woodson said he might be leaving too soon:

"There's always that thought," he said, "but at end of the day, it's not about me, it's about this team. We're going to Indianapolis and trying to win the Big Ten tournament."

That means winning four games in four days.

"We hope to start playing our best ball," Leal said. "This is when it counts. Our goals are all still in front of us."