IU overcomes sluggish start to ease past USC for fifth straight win
From the tipoff, Indiana’s play against USC on Wednesday night was sluggish. Coming off an important win against Penn State at the Palestra on Sunday, the Hoosiers’ lack of urgency was on full display while the Trojans looked determined to steal a road victory.
However, IU woke up after falling into an early double-digit deficit. The Hoosiers stormed back to tie the game at halftime before cruising in the second frame for an 82-69 win.
“Our team has shown that they don’t quit,” Mike Woodson said postgame. “You’ve got to give Southern Cal credit because they came ready to play… once we got going and met their physicality, then we got back into the game and started playing Indiana basketball.”
In the early going, Indiana’s play was a coach’s nightmare. Defensively, USC sliced and diced its way inside to score with ease. When the Trojans led 22-12 less than 10 minutes in, they were 10-for-17 (59 percent) and on track to run away with the win.
Offensively, the Hoosiers moved the ball very little and settled for poor shots. When they had open looks, they didn’t fall.
It wasn’t until senior forward Luke Goode drained two consecutive triples that the offense got up to speed. After that, the lane opened up and IU started to effectively balance scoring inside and on the perimeter.
The second unit’s role can’t be overlooked either. The trio of Anthony Leal, Bryson Tucker and Kanaan Carlyle provided much needed energy on both ends of the floor to disrupt USC.
It wasn’t long until the Hoosiers’ 10-point deficit evaporated and became a back-and-forth affair. Down the stretch of the first half, Oumar Ballo played up to the level of performance he’s recently displayed and Goode continued to knock down shots.
An energetic spurt to open the second half was due – just like at Penn State – and senior guard Trey Galloway led the charge. Following a quiet first half, Galloway erupted as IU surged ahead.
First, he showcased his scoring abilities. After a few strong drives to the baskets for layups, Galloway drilled a contested corner 3-pointer, pouring in seven of Indiana’s first 11 points of the second half.
Although he only scored one more basket the rest of the game, Galloway’s facilitation powered Indiana’s offense.
Having significantly improved as a ball handler over the past couple of seasons, Galloway masterfully conducted the pick-and-roll with Ballo, connecting for multiple alley-oops and pushing the pace for transition buckets.
After coming alive at the end of the first half, Ballo carried his dominance over and exhibited his size and strength. Ballo was a force in the paint both ways, finding his spots for efficient looks offensively and disrupting nearly every shot at the rim on the other end.
“We knew what we were getting with him and how dominant he was,” Galloway said of Ballo. “Just him getting back to that, dominating games with his size and not only scoring it but affecting shots on the defensive end and being a leader… it’s making us better as a team.”
Sophomore guard Myles Rice quietly put together his most complete game of the season. In addition to 19 points, he notched season-highs with nine rebounds and six assists.
After taking a 12-point lead with 11:25 remaining, Indiana improved its damage control after Sunday’s near-16-point collapse. Against the Trojans, the Hoosiers never allowed the lead to inch closer than seven points.
Along with plus performances from Goode with 16 points, Tucker adding nine and a much-improved defensive showing in the second half, IU has started to turn the corner in its recent games even without sophomore forward Malik Reneau. To Woodson, the team’s identity is revealing itself.
“When we’re scrappy and defending and rebounding the ball as a unit, and able to get out and play a little faster, that’s Indiana basketball,” he said. “We’ve had glimpses of it off-and-on, I thought these last three or four games we’re playing much better now.”
Extended cold stretches and periods of poor play are still prevalent, but the Hoosiers have found the recipe for success with new lineup configurations and bursts of energy. It hasn’t been perfect, but it’s been enough for a 5-game win streak – and Indiana’s best start in Big Ten play (4-1) since 2015-16.
The next long-term question is when Reneau can return and how this will affect the rotation. But with that still appearing far away, another road test awaits in Iowa.
Filed to: USC Trojans