Woodson and the Hoosiers win over Ohio State in Home Finale

By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

   The Indiana Hoosiers closed out the regular season with a 66-60 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday Afternoon in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Indiana is 19-12 overall and 10-10 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers will be the number 9 seed in the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis next week and will face the 8 Seed Oregon Ducks in the second round on Thursday at Noon.

   Indiana is projected to make the NCAA Tournament and could one of the last four teams in the field of 68. Ohio State finishes the regular season at 17-11 and 9-11 in the Big Ten as the Buckeyes are the Number 10 seed for the upcoming Big Ten Tournament and will play at 6 PM on Wednesday night in the first round. Ohio State could be on the outside looking in for the NCAA Tournament and they will find out if they are in the field of 68 on Sunday March 16, at 6 PM when the NCAA Tournament field is announced on CBS.

   Senior Trey Galloway became the latest member of the 1,000-point club scoring 16 points and dishing out 6 assists becoming the 56th player in Indiana University Men’s Basketball History to score 1,000 points. Malik Reneau scored 16 points and went a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line. Luke Goode scored 11 points and went 8-10 from the free throw line. Senior Oumar Ballo scored 9 points and add 7 rebounds.

   Senior Anthony Leal scored 4 points. Indiana finished 19-54 from the field 35%, 5-20 from three-point range for 25% and 23-31 from the free throw line for 74%. Indiana pulled down 40 rebounds, dished out 11 assists, 5 blocks, 3 steals and committed 9 turnovers.

   Micah Parrish led the Buckeyes with 19 points and Devin Royal added 13 points. Leading scorer Bruce Thornton was held to 9 points. Ohio State finished the game 21-55 from the field for 38%, 8-26 from three-point range for 30% and 10-15 from the free throw line for 66%. Ohio State pulled down 31 rebounds, 12 assists, 7 steals, 4 blocks and committed 10 turnovers. Ohio State did not score a field goal for the last five minutes in fifty seconds as the Buckeyes missed their last six field goals and went 1 for 11 from the field down the stretch.

   The game featured six ties and six lead changes as the Hoosiers led for 29:11 and the Buckeyes led for 7:31. Ohio State lead 29-25 at halftime and the Hoosiers outscored the Buckeyes 41-31 in the second half. Ohio State led 46-36 with 12:16 left in the second half for their largest lead of the game at 10 points. Indiana went on a 10-0 run and led by seven points with 26 seconds left by seven points.

   Trey Galloway hit the big shot to ice the game and head coach Mike Woodson said it was only fitting that his senior hit the big shot. “I couldn’t be prouder of Trey Galloway and the career he’s had on this basketball floor.” Mike Woodson said. After the game Indiana Head Coach Mike Woodson was doing a postgame interview with CBS, and he was surrounded by the entire team as the surrounded him as his final home game as the Indiana Head Coach and hugged him after the interview was over. Woodson’s has not changed his mindset from his time when he took the job to now. “I just want the program to be successful. That’s all I ever thought about when I took the job, and that’s all I want now.” Woodson Said.

   After the game the nine Senior Managers and Eight Senior Players were honored. Dallas James did not go through Senior Day as we thought he would since James did not appear in a game for the Hoosiers this season it is possible for him to return for another year. Anthony Leal, Trey Galloway, Luke Goode, Oumar Ballo and Langdon Hatton Walk On’s Jadden Bobbett, Jackson Creel and Shaan Burke were all honored and did a video presentation thanking all their friends and family along with the coaching staff and players. There was also a video tribute to Indiana Head Coach Mike Woodson who announced a month ago he was stepping down at the end of the season.

   Anthony Leal stepped to the microphone and spoke on behalf of the entire team thanking everyone for their support and since he is a license real estate agent, he reminded fans “If you ever need a house, I am your realtor” Leal said after the game. Leal gave head coach Mike Woodson a shutout at the of the press game press conference “Shoutout to coach. It’s his last game here before he steps down. He means the world to us. Shoutout to coach Woodson.”

   Mike Woodson beat Ohio State on his Senior Day in 1980 and his final game in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall as after a four-year run as Indiana Head Coach in 2025 he beats the Buckeyes for a second time. Woodson said on the CBS Broadcast after the game “Maybe I’m leaving too soon, I don’t know.” In the post-game press conference, he was asked about his comment. “There’s always going to be that thought. But at the end of the day, it’s not about me right now. It’s about this team and us going up to Indianapolis and trying to win the Big Ten Tournament.” Woodson Said.

   There is a lot of basketball left to play, and the Hoosiers are going to do everything they can to extend the season for as long as they can. One thing is certain in the four years under Mike Woodson the Hoosiers have had a winning season and have been to two NCAA Tournaments and they are in line for third Big Dance in Four Years and no matter what the fans think of Mike Woodson he is always has been and always will be a winner.