At the buzzer: Indiana 66, Northwestern 62

  • 01/08/2020 9:09 pm in

Quick thoughts on a 66-62 win over Northwestern:

How it happened: This was nearly a disaster for the Hoosiers. After leading by as many as 10 in the first half, a long scoring drought from Indiana allowed Northwestern to march back into the game and grab a three-point cushion at the break. Things only got worse early in the second half as Northwestern stretched the lead out to 10. Fans booed. Archie Miller looked flummoxed on the sidelines. And IU’s players seemed to have no answer. But as Indiana began to get stops and Northwestern showed itself for what it is – the Big Ten’s worst team – the Hoosiers climbed back into the game. Complete control was never established, but a lob from Rob Phinisee to Trayce Jackson-Davis with 1:24 to play stretched the lead to four. And when Pete Nance bricked a 3-pointer from the right wing with 12 seconds remaining, Jackson-Davis grabbed the rebound and made a free throw to ice IU’s second Big Ten win.

Standout performers: Jackson-Davis was huge in the win with 21 points and seven rebounds in 34 minutes. Justin Smith, after a tough first half in which he committed five turnovers, had 13 of his 18 points in the second half and also had six rebounds and three steals.

Statistics that stands out: Northwestern didn’t make a field goal for more than a three and a half minute stretch late in the game. IU’s 3-point shooting percentage, meanwhile, continues to crater. The Hoosiers are now 24-for-108 on 3s over their last five games (22.2 percent).

Final IU individual stats:

Final tempo-free stats:

Assembly Call postgame show:

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