IU basketball embraces ‘better in numbers’ mentality to turn 23-point deficit into blowout victory

Lamar Wilkerson celebrates with teammates.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – As another basket had dropped in front of his bench, Indiana coach Darian DeVries scratched his head in bewilderment.

His team suddenly found itself down 44-21 a few minutes into the second quarter.

It was a low point for Indiana. Playing in its first of two games against Serbian professional team Mega Superbet, there was no answer for the length. DeVries had already taken his two allotted timeouts for the half in the first quarter with no luck.

“I was more worried, just like, how we were down 44 to 21,” DeVries said. “I just thought we were getting out-toughed a little bit and some things at both ends of the floor.”

Tough shots kept falling on one end, while the other looked like it had a lid on the rim. At Roberto Clemente Coliseum on Saturday night, Mega Superbet looked like a team that had experience playing together; Indiana looked disjointed.

Despite the lopsided score at the time, Indiana’s intensity never faltered. There was never a moment when the Indiana bench looked defeated. Frustration mounted, but there was still hope that a turnaround was looming.

Suddenly, Indiana flipped the switch.

Senior forward Reed Bailey went on a 6-0 run of his own to start the comeback. However, that wasn’t where the Hoosiers ended their quest. A 14-4 run to end the first half gave Indiana momentum into the locker room despite trailing 48-35.

“I love the fact that we really fought hard to climb back into the game,” DeVries said. “We went up in the locker room at halftime with a much more manageable situation than being down 24.”

With momentum and fresh legs, Indiana came out of the halftime locker room on fire. The Hoosiers started the half on a 14-1 run to tie the game at 49 and never looked back.

Indiana nearly doubled its scoring from the first half in the third quarter, outscoring Mega Superbet 32-11 to seize the lead for good.

During this span, there were very few times when any member of the Indiana bench was sitting. At one point, every person on the bench – players, coaches, and staff – stood for every defensive possession.

All told, Indiana went on a jaw-dropping 70-19 run to turn a 23-point deficit into a 93-71 victory.

Though some individuals had scoring outbursts in the second half, it was a team effort the entire way.

From diving for loose balls to tempers flaring after whistles, Indiana controlled a game that seemed lost in the opening minutes. They dictated the pace, stayed composed through chippy moments and never let their early deficit define the rest of the night.

“I just like the way they kind of pulled together, dug in, and fought harder and didn’t try to do it on their own, collectively,” DeVries said. “I like the way they pulled together.”

For DeVries, the summer trip has been about excursions and the experiences the team has gone on together. Basketball was going to be the side quest throughout this experience. However, the two merged on Saturday night.

“I think they learned a lot from having to kayak into the wind the other night,” DeVries said with a smile. “They were able to pull from that.”

It may have been a tongue-in-cheek comment from DeVries, but the point stands. There had never been any adversity to date with the group, but they were able to overcome it together.

The perfect blend of on and off-court activities during this trip could have significantly contributed to Indiana’s comeback on Saturday. However, the team’s growth off the floor could spark momentum for a scrappy group three months before the regular season.

It was an August exhibition, but comebacks like Saturday’s have the potential to help the team down the road.

There will likely be times this season when Indiana finds itself in a hole early. Now, with shared belief, the team can point to a moment they united and willed each other to victory.

“We just stick together when stuff gets hard,” senior guard Lamar Wilkerson said. “We’re better in numbers, so we followed through and brought our physicality up.”

What started with DeVries scratching his head in perplexity may end up being the moment his team found its identity.

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

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