Quick thoughts on a 74-69 win against Michigan:
How it happened: Things were bleak for Indiana the first 27+ minutes of Thursday’s Big Ten tournament opener at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Hoosiers, in desperate need of a win to keep their NCAA tournament hopes alive, trailed Michigan 60-43 with 12:52 to play. In previous seasons, Indiana would have folded and gone away quietly.
But this Indiana team, despite its struggles in closing out games, didn’t wilt. And as the Hoosiers started to get stops and gain confidence as the game wore on, Michigan grew tentative. By the 9:56 mark, Indiana was within 10 on a dunk by Trayce Jackson-Davis. Indiana got within one on a Miller Kopp 3-pointer with 6:13 to play at 62-61. As the Wolverines continued to misfire offensively thanks to stellar defense from IU, the momentum continued to move towards Indiana.
The Hoosiers grabbed the lead on a pair of free throws by Jackson-Davis with 5:39 to play. Michigan took its last lead of the afternoon on a pair of Eli Brooks free throws with 4:37 to play. Unlike in most games where it has been unable to finish this season, Indiana played like the more confident, composed team down the stretch in this one. In improbable fashion, Indiana erased a 17-point second half lead to grab its 19th win of the season, an important triumph for its NCAA tournament chances. The win advances the Hoosiers to the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals, where it will face top-seeded Illinois on Friday at 11:30 a.m. ET.
Standout performers: Trayce Jackson-Davis finished with a game-high 24 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots in 36 minutes. Xavier Johnson added 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in 27 minutes.
Statistics that stands out: Michigan scored just 28 points in the second half, made just eight field goals and committed 10 turnovers. The Wolverines missed 15 of their last 17 shots.
Final IU individual statistics:
Final tempo-free statistics:
Assembly Call postgame show:
Filed to: Michigan Wolverines
