Fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway stood at center court while celebrating his second 3-pointer in under a minute. To his left, fifth-year senior guard Anthony Leal puffed out his chest in preparation for a celebratory chest bump. To his right, sixth-year senior center Oumar Ballo readied his outstretched right hand for an additional embrace.
Three players — playing their final season of college basketball, for a head coach in his final season at the helm, during the penultimate game on their home floor — added one more memory to a scrapbook of experience.
“I've been in college for quite a long time now,” Ballo said postgame. “I know this moment, man, they go fast. And for guys like Trey and Leal that have been here for five years, I know every single game means the world to them.”
The 6-point burst regained Indiana men’s basketball’s lead over Penn State — one the Hoosiers held onto for the remainder of their 83-78 win over the Nittany Lions on Wednesday at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington.
On Feb. 7, Indiana Athletics announced in a press release that head coach Mike Woodson would vacate the position after the 2024-25 season. Since then, the Hoosiers have won three of their last five matchups and — with Quad 1 wins over then-No. 11 Michigan State on Feb. 11 and then-No. 13 Purdue on Feb. 23 — have clawed their way back into the NCAA Tournament picture.
It’s no coincidence the Hoosiers have been rolling since the program announced Woodson’s forthcoming resignation.
Veteran players have been the catalysts for Indiana’s recent success, many of whom have seen noticeable increases in playing time since Woodson’s decision to step down. Both Galloway and Leal played the entire second half of Indiana’s matchup with the Boilermakers.
“I kind of rolled the seniors,” Woodson said, after the win Sunday. “We've been in a lot of close games over the last month and a half, and I just haven't been able to get over the hump. Tonight, they refused to lose.”
Woodson has coached with more freedom. In a sense, the pressure of maintaining relationships in hopes of retaining players in the business-like landscape of college basketball has subsided.
For example, freshman forward Bryson Tucker played double-digit minutes in 19 of his 20 appearances for Indiana to start the season. Although he struggled to consistently produce, he continued getting reps. He’s played just 12 total minutes in the Hoosiers’ last five games. Tucker didn’t make an appearance against the Nittany Lions.
Those minutes have mainly been diverted to veterans such as Galloway and Ballo. Players who — like Woodson — are looking to end their final season in college basketball with a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
“These guys are seniors,” Woodson said. “They don't get another shot at this. So, they know what it's about.”
Galloway scored 16 points and tied a season high with nine assists. Despite entering the game making 4 of his last 24 attempts from beyond the arc, he shot an efficient 4 for 5 from deep against Penn State. Galloway’s four 3-pointers — all of which came in the second half — were also a season high.
While Galloway’s performance wasn’t spotless — he finished with six turnovers — his hustle and intensity shined through in crucial moments throughout the game.
The Culver, Indiana, native has struggled in his fifth season with the Hoosiers. He’s seen a decrease in minutes, points per game and field goal percentage from last season. Still, when it mattered most, Woodson relied on him.
“I never stopped believing in Trey,” Woodson said. “Trey's been with me the longest. He's put up with a lot of shit from me. And I trust him. Yeah, he makes mistakes. They all do. I make mistakes. But at the end of the day, I know he's going to play hard and give 100 percent when he's out there, and that's all you can ask for.”
Galloway’s efforts helped keep Indiana firmly in the hunt for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Hoosiers sit at 17-11 overall 8-9 in the Big Ten with three more conference games left in the regular season.
Indiana’s season is ending — so are the careers of its veteran-most players. Galloway, Leal and Ballo have played in a combined 385 games at the Division I level. They’ll have one more chance to play at Assembly Hall.
It’s a reality that isn’t lost on Galloway.
“We just have to keep reminding each other to cherish every moment,” he said. “When it's over we're all going to miss it. It's going to be tough to really understand what it meant to put this uniform on and to go to war with our brothers every day.”
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.
