Quick thoughts on an 87-85 victory over Penn State:
How it happened: Indiana started strong Wednesday night against a Penn State team known for taking defenses and lifting a ton of three-pointers. The Hoosiers led 12-7 early on 12-of-6. Penn State couldn’t stop getting dirty and Indiana benefited from its first seven attempts to throw for free. After a back-and-forth first half that let Myreon Jones go for 14 points, it looked like Indiana would extend its cushion to double-digits to a five-point possession and a 29-20 lead on the point at 4:30 p.m. . But Penn State responds with five straight points of its own. A couple of missed free throws from Race Thompson to end the half sent the Hoosiers to the locker room, leading only 38-33.
The Nittany Lions exploded offensively with 20 points from the locker room in the first 7:17 of the half. While the Hoosiers do not stop, they continue offensively. Indiana made 10 of its first 13 shots to start the second half and opened up a nine-point lead 63-54 on a Rob Phinisee three-point lead. The lead grew to 12 on an Al Durham Jr. three-pointer with 9:56 to play, clinching a 13-1 run. But the Indiana defense never really put the emphasis on Penn State and the Nittany Lions took the lead under double figures on a Jamari Wheeler jumper with 8:24 to play. Penn State would reach four times on two separate occasions before Indiana made three straight shots to extend the lead to nine at 75-66 with 4:45 to play. Penn State, however, was not finished. The Nittany Lions set up an 8-0 run to play within one with 2:49 left. While Indiana’s field drought lasted longer than 3:30, Penn State took its first lead over a Sam Sessoms jumper with 28 seconds to play. Indiana equalized at 80 when Trayce Jackson-Davis hit some free throws with seven seconds to play, and Phinisee blocked a Sessoms shot on the buzzer to force overtime.
Indiana had an exceptional drought of more than 3:30 in overtime before a Jackson-Davis three-point game led IU 85-83 by playing 1:03. Penn State responded with some free throws from Jones with 43.7 seconds to play overtime. Out of a timeout, Phinisee hit a tough jumper with 14.3 seconds to give IU a 2-point lead. Sessoms lost the ball on a ride with just under four seconds to play and Brockington missed a shot from the baseline when the IU survived for its first Big Ten victory.
Outstanding: Jackson-Davis led five Hoosiers in double figures with 21 points in 37 minutes. He was 8-out-13 from the field and added six rebounds.
Statistics that stand out: Indiana triumphed despite losing the Nittany Lions by 1.14 points per possession.
Final IU Individual Statistics:
Final pace-free stats:
Filed with: Penn State Nittany Lions