At the Buzzer: Indiana 63, Wisconsin 45

Quick thoughts on a 63-45 win against Wisconsin:

How it happened

It was an offensive struggle in the first half for Indiana and Wisconsin. The two teams combined for 41 points and neither team led by four points. The Hoosiers were more connected defensively than we’ve seen in weeks, holding the Badgers to 20 first half points and just .66 points per possession. But it was a struggle offensively as Indiana didn’t make a 3-pointer and shot just 10-for-33 from the field. Trayce Jackson-Davis was 2-for-6 from the field and finished the opening 20 minutes with four points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and an assist. Indiana led 21-20 at intermission.

Indiana scored the first eight points of the second half to open a nine-point lead at 29-20, forcing Greg Gard to take a timeout. The lead ballooned to 13 at 33-20 before Chucky Hepburn scored Wisconsin’s first bucket of the second half of the 14:53 mark. An Indiana 6-0 run pushed the lead to 39-22 with 13:21 remaining, forcing Gard to call another timeout. Wisconsin’s 7-0 got the Badgers within 10 at 39-29, but Jalen Hood-Schifino answered with a jump shot to push the lead back to 12 at 41-29 with 9:50 to play. Wisconsin got back within 10 at 45-35, but Indiana answered with a 6-1 run to open up a 51-36 advantage. The lead ballooned to 16 on a Miller Kopp 3-pointer with 4:35 to play. Indiana stretched the lead to 21 at 61-40 on a Trey Galloway 3-point play with 2:51 to go. The win, Indiana’s first since Dec. 23 against Kennesaw State, improved the Hoosiers to 11-6 on the season and 2-4 in Big Ten play.

Standout performers

Both Jordan Geronimo and Jackson-Davis recorded double-doubles. Geronimo finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds and Jackson-Davis had 18 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and five blocked shots. Hood-Schifino had 16 points on 8-for-15 shooting and added five rebounds and four assists.