As the Indiana men’s basketball team took the floor for the final time before tipoff Saturday afternoon against Ohio State, fifth-year senior guard Trey Galloway took his usual place at the front of a long, Cream and Crimson-colored line.
Just under two and a half hours later, Galloway brought up the rear of the Hoosiers’ postgame handshake line — after he had already high-fived or hugged all his teammates and assistant coaches.
In between, Galloway tied for the team lead with 16 points, eclipsed 1,000 points scored for his career and hit perhaps the biggest shot of his IU career — a deep 3-pointer with less than a minute and a half remaining to give the Hoosiers a 5-point lead — en route to a crucial 66-60 victory over Ohio State at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
Regardless of how Galloway played, Saturday promised to be the 72nd and final home game of his college career. He ended with an exclamation point — and, most important to him, a victory.
“What I'll remember the most is winning and going out as a winner at Assembly Hall,” Galloway said postgame.
Galloway has played 139 career games at Indiana, the most in program history. He’s the 56th Hoosier to score at least 1,000 points. And the Culver, Indiana, native is one of only two Hoosiers — alongside fifth-year senior guard Anthony Leal — who have been with the team for head coach Mike Woodson’s entire four-year tenure.
Indiana has endured highs and lows with Woodson, who’s stepping down at the end of the season.
The same is true for Galloway, who faced a barrage of boos at various points in his final season. At one point during Indiana’s 94-69 loss to Illinois on Jan. 14, fans cheered when Galloway went to the bench and booed when his face was shown on the video board.
With his game-sealing 3-pointer Saturday, Galloway turned anxiety into euphoria. It’s the reaction Woodson feels Galloway has long deserved.
“For the fans to sit in here and boo him during the time that they booed him, it just wasn't right,” Woodson said. “It just wasn't. Because that kid competes. He gives his heart. Have nothing but respect and love for Trey Galloway.”
Galloway, however, said he was unfazed by the crowd’s disdain for him.
“I think just the biggest thing, like my dad's always telling me, ‘If you listen to the crowd, you're going to be sitting with them,’” Galloway said. “That really hit home. I was like, you can't really worry about what's going on outside. All I care about is what's in the locker room with me, and really just trusting that my teammates trust me to make plays and no matter what was said, or what was going on, it doesn't really matter.”
The two sitting next to Galloway at the postgame podium, Leal and senior forward Luke Goode, each audibly supported the message from Galloway’s dad, Mark.
It’s more than coach speak. At the under-4 media timeout, Indiana public address announcer Jeremy Gray noted Galloway eclipsed 1,000 career points on a 3-pointer 30 seconds prior. Most fans — and sophomore guard Gabe Cupps — clapped their hands to recognize the accomplishment.
Galloway remained locked into the Hoosiers’ huddle. He lifted his hands, but only to pass a Gatorade bottle back to one of the team managers.
Indiana, which trailed 56-54 at the time of the huddle, finished the game on a 12-4 run to take an NCAA Tournament resume-boosting victory. Galloway’s deep triple was the Hoosiers’ last made field goal, as it forced Ohio State to foul on each of Indiana’s remaining possessions.
Yet, while Galloway’s finish may have been storybook, his start wasn’t.
The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Galloway missed each of his first three attempts. His first points came on a tip-in with just over 12 and a half minutes remaining in the opening half, and he made a free throw 30 seconds later. But he didn’t score for over nine minutes thereafter.
Galloway hit a pair of floaters inside the final three minutes to finish with 7 points in the first half. However, his momentum didn’t immediately carry over. He didn’t score for the first eight and a half minutes of the second half, but he ultimately made three 3-pointers to finish with 16 points, tied for his second-most in a game this season.
A rollercoaster of emotions and scoring spells followed Galloway around Saturday evening. His veteran poise helped him overcome it — and guide the Hoosiers to their fifth win in the past seven games.
“We've had a lot of highs and a lot of lows through our career,” Leal said postgame. “For him to continue working and doing what he does well and just being super reliable for our team has been really big, not just this year, but in previous years. I know when he does what he does well, our team plays a lot better.”
Through the thrilling heights and deafening valleys, Galloway hasn’t lost his hustle. He earned the nickname “Crazy Man” from Woodson during the 2021-22 season, their first year together, because he was “all over the place,” Woodson said.
Woodson didn’t know how Galloway was going to play on a nightly basis, but he knew Galloway would compete — after all, it’s all he’s ever done.
Galloway’s legacy in Bloomington hasn’t been finalized. The Hoosiers have more business to handle, starting with their Big Ten Tournament opener at noon Thursday against Oregon inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
But one chapter closed Saturday. Galloway won’t play another second of competitive basketball at Assembly Hall. His outing ended with what Woodson dubbed “the biggest shot of the game,” a fitting culmination for a player with more sweat equity in the program than most.
As senior day ceremonies began postgame, the mood turned reflective. Woodson eyed the seniors’ jerseys scattered in frames across Branch McCracken Court, and he took extra time while staring at Galloway’s white No. 32 thread.
Perhaps his mind went to the 80 wins they’ve had together, or the tough times in which they’ve publicly supported one another. Or maybe he thought about the maturation of “Crazy Man” into a two-time team captain at one of college basketball’s most prestigious institutions.
Galloway has more to pen in his final farewell to Indiana. He’s now driving the proverbial boat of a once-sunken ship headed toward March Madness.
But amidst his various identities and extensive list of accolades, Galloway’s calling card hasn’t changed.
“I mean, the only way you can remember Trey is that he plays hard,” Woodson said. “He competes. And you would be fooling yourself if you think anything else.”
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.
