It was expected to be a blowout, a devastating defeat for Indiana men’s basketball that would solidify its season as one filled with disappointment and heartbreak.
Instead, the contest nearly resulted in a season-defining victory. And in the end, it truly was season defining — just for all the wrong reasons.
When Indiana led by 6 with five-and-a-half minutes to go, a win seemed attainable. Then, Purdue responded immediately, taking the lead just under two minutes later.
An offensive foul from fifth-year senior guard Anthony Leal on the next offensive possession seemed to seal Indiana’s fate. The squads seemed to recognize that too: Purdue junior guard Braden Smith emphatically yelled to the crowd while Hoosiers sophomore forward Mackenzie Mgbako held his hands on his head and Indiana head coach Mike Woodson looked out incredulously.
However, Indiana’s fight was not over, and with 25 seconds left, the Hoosiers led 76-75. Less than half a minute stood between a third Quad 1 win for the Hoosiers and a likely season-altering victory.
But as Boilermakers junior forward Trey Kaufmann-Renn hit a jump hook to take the lead and Hoosiers redshirt sophomore guard Myles Rice missed his jumper on the other end, Indiana was sent back to reality. The Cream and Crimson ultimately fell 81-76 Friday night at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Those hopeful dreams could have started a season turnaround, one that could see Indiana defy its midseason expectations and reach the NCAA Tournament. But those were just dreams, and the Hoosiers are back to square one, still searching for that elite victory over top competition.
What hurts more than any loss isn’t that Indiana fell to a bitter archrival — it’s that it followed a blueprint to success and still fell short.
The Hoosiers led at halftime, thanks in large part to Mgbako and senior forward Luke Goode. The duo combined for 24 on 9-for-15 shooting, accounting for nearly half their team’s points.
Then, when Purdue took a 6-point lead in under three minutes out of halftime, the Hoosiers seemed destined for defeat. When the advantage was still at 7 with just over 12 minutes to go, a loss was inevitable.
But it wasn’t, and a 12-0 run powered the Hoosiers back into the lead. Intensity, effort and composure in a hostile environment all aided that run, as did Purdue’s five-minute and 11-second scoreless streak.
In other games, Indiana was often susceptible to those cold runs, both in victories and defeats. Friday, it all seemed different — and rightfully so.
“I thought the effort was there,” fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway said postgame. “We fought through a bunch of runs — obviously, they went on a bunch of runs — but I think just continuing to just keep competing was the main thing.”
The Hoosiers held the Boilermakers to two 3-pointers on 13 attempts, a stark contrast to the 25 triples they allowed over the previous two games. Purdue only managed nine assists, a testament to both its impressive shot-making and Indiana’s staunch defending.
From the bench, the Hoosiers also saw results. Galloway, amidst a concerning string of poor performances, delivered with 15 points on 7-for-10 shooting and two clutch baskets in crunch time — the last two Indiana scored.
Alongside Goode’s 13 points — all scored in the first half — Indiana’s bench supplied the necessary foil for the 9 combined points between Rice, Leal and junior forward Malik Reneau. Then, most obviously, Mgbako’s impressive 25-point, five-rebound performance kept the Hoosiers in the contest, providing a go-to scorer down the stretch when they needed it most.
However, as is the case with all blueprints, everything needed to be perfect. And Indiana, despite a quality performance, was plagued by its flaws.
Jumping out from the box score was the 20 turnovers — six more than the Hoosiers’ assist total and just under eight more than their season average. Despite his scoring triumphs, Galloway accounted for six turnovers, while the starting lineup combined for 13.
Indiana’s free throw shooting also hurt down the stretch, especially when the game seemed destined to finish with a close scoreline. The Hoosiers’ 9-for-16 shooting from the line continued its recent free throw struggles, as they shot 9 for 15 against Maryland and 17 of 23 against Ohio State two games before that.
And in a game that was separated by the slimmest of margins, the turnovers and missed free throws added up immensely.
“It’s very frustrating, because we’re right there,” Galloway said. “And we got to keep fighting. There’s a lot of games left. But to know that we’re right there and that close to being able to find ways to win those close games like this is definitely frustrating for all of us.”
The first sentiment has been echoed by Galloway’s teammates and head coach as recently as last Sunday against Maryland. While it may be the case Indiana still has games to play, these losses will continue to add up. Now with a losing record in the Big Ten, the Hoosiers are firmly on the outside of any chances to reach March Madness.
As Galloway rightfully pointed out, it’s encouraging to see this Indiana squad compete on the road against a top-10 Purdue squad. But the Hoosiers’ inconsistencies mean this performance isn’t inevitable — and with the slate ahead, it needs to be.
With bouts against No. 17 Wisconsin, Michigan and No. 7 Michigan State next up, Indiana’s season isn’t over. But wins in the Big Ten are hard to come by, especially on the road against top competition, and both the contests versus the Badgers and Spartans are on the road.
So, with everything to play for in its final nine games, Indiana has the opportunity to salvage a season that’s on the precipice of disaster. Otherwise, this team will be remembered for what could have been — starting with the Friday night at Mackey Arena.
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.
