COLUMBUS, Ohio — Indiana men’s basketball entered its matchup with Ohio State on Friday night coming off two straight 25-point losses. The Buckeyes were just as much in need of a win. After losing a pair of games by a combined 4 points, they returned to Value City Arena looking to defend their home floor.
Despite holding a double-digit lead with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, Indiana needed overtime heroics from senior forward Luke Goode to defeat Ohio State 77-76 in thrilling fashion.
Goode led the Hoosier attack with a career-high 23 points and shot 4 for 7 from beyond the arc.
Head coach Mike Woodson introduced a new-look starting lineup, replacing fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway with fifth-year senior guard Anthony Leal, who made just his third career start. Both sides struggled to make shots from the perimeter early in the first half, starting a combined 2 for 13 from beyond the arc.
With six minutes remaining in the first half, the two sides were tied at 22 apiece. The Hoosiers only made one field goal across the final seven minutes of the half allowing Ohio State to grab a 35-29 lead entering halftime.
Indiana opened the second half with a 14-6 run capped off by a contested 3-point make from Goode to secure a 43-41 lead. After an extended period of tightly contested play, the Hoosiers used an over three-minute Buckeye scoring drought to fuel a 9-0 run and build a 10-point advantage.
Ohio State quickly shifted momentum, erasing Indiana’s lead with a 13-3 run over the final four minutes of the second half. After freshman guard John Mobley Jr. sunk a 3-pointer to tie the game at 71, both sides missed chances at a go-ahead score as the game advanced to overtime.
While trailing 76-74 in the extra period, Indiana once more turned to Goode from the perimeter. The Illinois transfer received the ball on the right wing before sinking the decisive 3-pointer with just over a minute remaining.
The Buckeyes had one final shot to complete the comeback victory with time winding down, but junior guard Bruce Thornton’s attempt from beyond the arc fell short as the clock struck zero.
Indiana will look to build off the overtime win when it travels to Evanston, Illinois to face Northwestern 7 p.m. Wednesday at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa) and columnist Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer (@mateo_frohwer) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s basketball season.
