CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — There was no slowing down senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis in Indiana men’s basketball’s matchup against Illinois on Thursday.
If the Illini tried, Jackson-Davis powered through them. If someone managed to get in his way, junior forward Jordan Geronimo was right there to help with baskets of his own.
In Indiana’s 80-65 victory over Illinois, Jackson-Davis and Geronimo played with a renewed work ethic and sense of confidence. Jackson-Davis was a one-man wrecking crew for the Hoosiers, racking up a Big Ten career-best 35 points, and the Hoosiers’ renewed swagger shined in the biggest moments.
“Anytime you win games, everybody feels better,” head coach Mike Woodson said after the game. “To come out on the road, to beat a good, well-coached team that just won four in a row, that says a lot for the character of our ballclub.”
16:35, first half: Geronimo is wide open when he gets the pass from junior guard Trey Galloway beyond the 3-point line and doesn’t hesitate to pull up and shoot. The shot is clean, and Indiana takes its first lead of the game.
Geronimo is far from a 3-point shooter, entering the game 3-for-15 on the season. But Geronimo is playing like a different man since he struggled on the floor in Indiana’s three losses to start the year. After Illinois started the game with 4 straight points to force an Indiana timeout, Geronimo’s triple influenced a 12-0 response from the Hoosiers.
“He’s playing really, really big for us,” Jackson-Davis said. “He could have shut it down, especially after the first two games where he got thrown in the fire. He didn’t, he took Coach’s criticism, worked hard and showed us the player he can be.”
Middle of the first half: Freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino hits a step through floater, quelling chances of a long Illinois run. Geronimo pulls up for a jumper from just inside the arc and follows his shot for a rebound. It’s unnecessary, as the shot falls in.
For a large chunk of the first half, Hood-Schifino and Geronimo were everywhere, providing sparks and offense on the way to 23 combined first half points: 10 for Hood-Schifino, 13 for Geronimo. Their hustle was the jolt Indiana needed.
“(Geronimo) is playing like he played at the end of last season,” Woodson said. “He’s moving around, he’s cleaning up stuff, he’s cutting when he needs to cut... Trayce is rewarding him with the passes.”
1:15, first half: Jackson-Davis repeatedly backs down his defender towards the hoop. He’s the stronger player, facing few issues as he works his way under the basket. A quick spin move and he’s past his defender, the basketball kissing the glass before falling into the net.
In the first half, Geronimo and Jackson-Davis combined to make every one of their shots, a perfect 12-for-12 start. The Hoosiers only took three 3-pointers in the first half, largely thanks to the production of the forwards who led Indiana to a 30-16 points in the paint advantage at the break and finished the night with a 54-32 differential.
“I’m just being able to play with Trayce a lot, getting a lot more time on the floor,” Geronimo said. “I’ve been able to read what he does and get used to his game so I know where to be.”
15:48, second half: It takes Jackson-Davis 24 minutes to miss a shot, but his confidence doesn’t waver. On his next shot attempt, he flies through the lane to slam home a dunk, a feat he didn’t need to attempt in the first half but had ample opportunity to try in the second.
After receiving plenty of support in the first half, Jackson-Davis had the second half to shine by himself. He had 22 of Indiana’s 37 second-half points and looked comfortable doing it all. He finished the night a rebound short of a double-double and added five assists and three blocks.
“I’m just taking what the defense gives me, honestly,” Jackson-Davis said. “Then it’s just, make the right play.”
Even more evidence of Jackson-Davis doing it all: the forward was fouled while attempting a 3-pointer late in the shot clock near the end of the game. He made all three free throws and is still looking for his first career triple.
0:05, second half: The Hoosiers dribble the ball around the court to let the shot clock run out. They’ve already iced a road win, placing them at 3-4 in Big Ten play after three losses to start the year.
“I was told that anytime you win on the road in the Big Ten it’s special,” Woodson said. “It’s not easy winning out on the road in the Big Ten. We just gotta validate what we did tonight.”
