BLOOMINGTON — Indiana basketball has found a sense of purpose with its back against the wall.
The Hoosiers beat Penn State 83-78 on Wednesday night for its second straight win and third win in their last four games. They played inspired basketball in the second half just as they did in an upset victory over Purdue and slammed the door on PSU in impressive fashion.
Indiana (17-11; 8-9 Big Ten) allowed only two field goals after Trey Galloway connected on back-to-back 3-pointers that gave his team its first lead of the second half with 5:14 to go in the game.
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“I think we’re coming together and we know we’re a better team than we’ve shown,” Galloway said. “And we still have a chance and we’re fighting for a spot in the tournament and we’re fighting for just getting better and pushing our record in the Big Ten.
It was the type of performance in a close game that eluded IU for the better part of two months when they lost eight of 10 games. The Hoosiers lost five of those by 10 points or less and they gave up a lead in the final minute multiple times.
Indiana missed a few free throws in the final minutes, but there was no meltdown against Penn State.
“These guys are playing for something,” Indiana coach Mike Woodson said. “We’re trying to get in the tournament.”
Woodson, who is stepping down at the end of the season, is leaning into that sentiment by relying on a group of seniors — Galloway, Anthony Leal, Luke Goode and Oumar Ballo — who are looking to extend their careers with a tournament berth.
They each played 30-plus minutes in the win and more than 16 minutes in the second half. Galloway might not have even left the floor if he hadn’t picked up multiple fouls on the same possession with 13:03 to play.
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“They don’t get another shot at this,” Woodson said. “They know what it’s about. Anthony and Gallo have been with me the longest. Goode has had a good run at Illinois; now he’s with us. Ballo is a senior. Gotta ride them, see where it leads us.”
While results from around the country also boosted Indiana’s tournament chances on Wednesday night with fellow bubble teams Wake Forest, Texas and Oklahoma losing, the Hoosiers are focused on taking care of their own business instead of spending much time scoreboard watching.
“We have to take every game as important and we have to finish the season strong, not just for us but for the fans,” Ballo said. “And I feel like they deserve that, and we’re pushing forward for that.”
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana basketball boosts NCAA Tournament resume vs Penn State
