Hoosiers Comeback Win

By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

The Indiana Hoosiers knocked off the Ohio State Buckeyes 76-73 Tuesday Night in Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio to get their first win in Columbus since March 4, 2017, snapping a four-game losing streak. Indiana sweeps the season series and leads all time against Ohio State 112-88 in 200 overall meetings with a three-game winning streak against the Buckeyes. The Hoosiers are now 14-9 overall and 6-6 in the Big Ten with a trip to Purdue up next on Saturday Night. The Buckeyes fall to 13-10 overall and 3-9 in the Big Ten with their chances for an NCAA Tournament berth slipping away as they have lost five in a row and eight of the last nine games.

The Hoosiers trailed by 18 points with 18:05 left in the game 47-29. The Hoosiers went on a 10-0 run to get within 2 points at 65-63 with five minutes left after being down 12 points 65-53 with 7:09 left in the game. Roddy Gayle Jr. made two free throws to put the Buckeyes up four 67-63 with 4:40 left. Trey Galloway hit a three pointer with 4:15 left to put the Hoosiers within one at 67-66. Felix Okpara dunked it with 3:52 left to go up three at 69-66. Malik Reneau put the Hoosiers back within one with a layup with 3:35 left 69-68. The Hoosiers took the lead on a layup by Kel’el Ware with 2:46 left to make 70-69. Anthony Leal added a free throw to make it 71-69 with 2:05 left. Jamison Battle tied the game at 71-71 with 1:40 left on a jumper. Battle gave the Buckeyes the lead hitting two free throws to make it 73-71 with 37 seconds left. Trey Galloway found Anthony Leal on the right wing for a three pointer to give the Hoosiers the lead 74-73 with 22 seconds left. The Buckeyes missed the shot and Kel’el Ware was going to score when he landed awkwardly on his foot and was fouled by Roddy Gayle Jr. with 2 seconds left. Ware went to the bench and Leal hit two free throws to seal the win for the Hoosiers and complete the comeback as IU outscored Ohio State 47-31 in the second half.

Indiana got off to a good start as on the opening tip Indiana got the ball first with Gabe Cupps passing to Malik Reneau who found Ware on the ally-oop five seconds into the game. The went back and forth until Ohio State went on a 10-0 run to lead 25-15 with 8:01 left. Payton Sparks was fouled by Zed Key then hit him with an elbow and was called for a flagrant one foul, after Sparks went to the line when Key fouled Sparks. The Hoosiers were frustrated as they trailed 42-29 at halftime. In the second half Malik Reneau was called for technical foul 30 seconds into the second half.

Reneau finished with 26 points and a career high 14 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Trey Galloway finished with 25 points as the pair combined for 51 of the 76 points and led the comeback in the second half. Mackenize Mgbako finished with 9 points, Anthony Leal and Kel’el Ware finished with 6 points each. Dayton, Ohio native Gabe Cupps finished with 2 points, 2 assists, a rebound, a steal and no turnovers. Payton Sparks and Anthony Walker had one point a piece and C.J. Gunn did not score. Indiana finished 25-56 for 44% from the field, 5-13 from three-point range for 38%, and 21-32 from the free throw line for 67%. The Hoosiers had 36 rebounds, 12 assists, 5 steals, 3 blocks and committed 11 turnovers.

Ohio State got 19 points each from Jamison Battle and Roddy Gayle Jr. Bruce Thornton added 11 points, Evan Mahaffey scored 8 points, Felix Okpara added 7 points, Zed Key 6 points and Dale Bonner 3 points. Devin Royal. Austin Parks and Scotty Middleton all played but did not score. The Buckeyes finished 22-53 for 41% from the field, 5-17 from three-point range for 29% and 24-27 from the free throw line for 89%. The Buckeyes pulled down 30 rebounds, dished out 10 assists, 4 steals, 4 blocks and committed 12 turnovers.