CHAMPAIGN, IL. — Sixth-year senior guard Xavier Johnson stepped up to the free throw line as the most experienced player on the floor. Indiana men’s basketball trailed No. 10 Illinois 64-62 with 54 seconds remaining and needed its veteran captain to come through.
He didn’t convert. Both shots missed off the rim, and Indiana failed to score again in a 70-62 loss — marking the Hoosiers’ third straight defeat.
Indiana commanded a lead for a majority of the game, leading for 21:41 of game time compared to Illinois for 15:39. However, lapses in crucial moments allowed the Fighting Illini to swoop in and come out victorious. A 12-for-22 effort from the free throw line was at the forefront of Indiana head coach Mike Woodson’s mind after the loss.
“That was the difference,” Woodson said postgame. “Close games on the road, anywhere, you gotta make free throws. We missed them at critical times when we needed them.”
Indiana’s troubles could have been avoided earlier in the half. A 13-0 Hoosier run put Indiana ahead 49-42 with 12:43 to play. Controlling the pace and momentum, the Hoosiers had a victory within reach and consistent play down the stretch could have secured it.
Instead, Indiana’s offense went cold. The Fighting Illini immediately responded with a 9-0 run to regain the lead and sophomore forward Malik Reneau picked up his third and fourth fouls, limiting the game’s leading scorer.
In a stretch just shy of nine minutes, Indiana shot 1-for-7 — including 0-for-4 on 3-pointers — in a run that flipped Illinois’ 7-point deficit to as high as a 5-point advantage. Instead of entering the final stretch ahead, the Hoosiers found themselves trailing by 2 points with 3:45 to play.
The 9-minute cold streak wasn’t the only time Indiana allowed a momentum switch. The Hoosiers led by as many as 8 points in the first half before the Illini fought to hang around a one possession difference. Then, Illinois surged ahead with a late 12-2 run to take an 8-point lead of its own.
Johnson scored right before the buzzer to cut the halftime deficit to 4 points but followed the make with a crucial error. He threw the ball at senior forward Coleman Hawkins, resulting in a technical foul that gave Illinois two free throws and possession to start the second half. It was Johnson’s third technical foul in the past five games.
Things went from 0-100 real quick right at the half ? pic.twitter.com/1eZIjIWwMx
The Hoosiers failed to capitalize on several opportunities to break the game open, setting the stage for a dramatic final four minutes. The lights were shining brightest in a raucous road environment, and a potential season-altering win was on the line for Indiana.
After senior guard Anthony Leal cut the deficit to 2 points, Indiana had an opportunity to tie or take the lead but turned the ball over. On the other end, Reneau fouled Hawkins — marking his fifth infraction and taking him out of the game with three minutes left. He exited with 21 points to lead all scorers.
“(Our mindset) was still to get the ball inside and play from out of there,” freshman forward Mackenzie Mgbako said regarding Reneau fouling out.
The Hoosiers followed the game plan and initially executed it. Johnson responded with a layup plus a foul but missed the free throw — a bad omen for what was to come. Illinois responded, but the Hoosiers scored two more buckets to tie the game at 62 with 1:29 left.
Johnson fouled fifth-year guard Terrance Shannon Jr. then conversely missed his free throws to make things even again. Shannon Jr. remained steady at the free throw line while the Hoosiers failed to make a shot on desperate attempts before time expired.
After double-digit losses in its two previous affairs, Indiana finally showed a fighting effort against a top-ranked opponent. However, the Hoosiers also displayed their unfamiliarity to the moment with an inability to prevail in the big moment.
“Listen, I’m about winning, man, I want to win at all costs,” Woodson said. “I thought we were solid all the way through, we just didn’t make the plays coming down the stretch.”
Looking ahead, the opportunities for resume-changing wins are decreasing for Indiana. The Hoosiers have two ranked opponents remaining on their schedule: Wisconsin and Purdue, who both beat Indiana by double digits.
Next on Indiana’s schedule is a contest against Iowa. The two teams will face off at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Follow reporters Will Foley (@foles24) and Matt Press (@MattPress23) and columnist Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
