Indiana secured its first signature win under Mike Woodson on Thursday by knocking off No. 4 Purdue 68-65 behind a huge game from guards Xavier Johnson and Rob Phinisee. The duo combined for 38 points, and Phinisee hit a contested go-ahead 3-pointer with 17 seconds left to swing the game back into the Hoosiers’ favor after the Boilermakers took their first lead of the second half at the 1:08 mark.
Trayce Jackson-Davis hit two free throws with five seconds left to put Indiana up by three, and then Jaden Ivey’s last second 3-point attempt rolled off for Purdue. Hoosiers fans promptly stormed the court to celebrate what amounts to a potential season-shifting victory in Woodson’s first season as coach.
IU (14-4, 5-3 Big Ten) began the week as one of the “First Four Out” of Jerry Palm’s Bracketology but should find themselves in the projected NCAA Tournament field after knocking off the Big Ten’s highest-ranked team. Purdue (15-3, 4-3) forced just three turnovers in the latest sign of how its defense could hold it back from reaching its lofty potential.
The win was particularly impressive for the Hoosiers because of Jackson-Davis’ quiet night. The junior star tied a career-low with just four points and was limited to 11 minutes because of foul trouble. His absence made the performances of Johnson and Phinisee all the more critical. Phinisee’s 20 points were a career-high, and Johnson’s 18 were the second-most he’s scored in a game since transferring in from Pittsburgh for this season.
Ivey led Purdue with 21 points. Star senior forward Trevion Williams finished with a season-low two points for Purdue.
