At the Buzzer: Indiana 71, Illinois 68

Quick thoughts on a 71-68 win against Illinois:

How it happened

Indiana’s defense wasn’t up to par to begin Saturday’s matinee at Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers did a decent job early on Matthew Mayer, but once the Baylor transfer got rolling, he was a difference maker. With Terrence Shannon Jr. unavailable due to a concussion, Mayer went off for 16 first half points. And while Trayce Jackson-Davis was an efficient 5-for-6 from the field, Illinois switched up its coverages and made the All-American far more uncomfortable than the first meeting in Champaign. By halftime, Illinois led Indiana 38-35. The Fighting Illini scored 1.17 points per possession in the first half. Jalen Hood-Schifino’s play was also problematic for Indiana. The freshman star was 1-for-8 from the field and committed three turnovers. In the first half, Illinois had 11 second-chance points and eight points off of turnovers.

The Illini opened a nine-point lead early in the second half, but Indiana cut the deficit to seven at 46-39 at the under-16 media timeout. Neither team could generate much offense out of the timeout, but Indiana did manage to trim another point off the lead to trail 50-44 with 10:48 to play. A 3-point play by Jackson-Davis off a nice assist from Miller Kopp drew Indiana within three at 54-51 at the under-eight timeout. Out of the timeout, Jackson-Davis turned it over and Luke Goode hit a long jumper to push the Illinois lead back to five.

On IU’s next possession, Hood-Schifino’s 3-pointer got the Hoosiers within two at 56-54 and then IU got a turnover and a bucket from Jackson-Davis to tie the game at 56 with 6:26 to play. After Illinois took a 59-56 lead, Indiana answered with a Miller Kopp 3-pointer to tie it at 59. Both teams could gain any separation and Illinois took a timeout with the game tied at 65 with 1:49 to play. Out of the timeout, Illinois turned it over which gave the Hoosiers possession with 1:41 remaining. Hood-Schifino turned it over, leading to a Coleman Hawkins bucket with 1:28 left. Hood-Schifino tied it at 67 with a pull-up jumper with 1:17 to play. Indiana then forced Ty Rodgers to turn it over and called timeout with 43.7 seconds to play. Out of the timeout, Rodgers fouled Hood-Schifino on a jumper with 30.7 seconds left to play. Hood-Schifino made both free throws to make it 69-67 Indiana. Illinois then used its final timeout with 27.6 seconds left. Hood-Schifino fouled Jayden Epps with 16.7 seconds left, but Epps missed the first free throw. Indiana then called its final timeout. Epps made the second to make it 69-68, but Jackson-Davis got a dunk on the other end to make it 71-68 with just under seven seconds to go. RJ Melendez had a clean look from the right wing, but missed it as Indiana won for the 19th time.