COLUMBUS, Ohio – After a flat and ugly first half, and even ugly first 10 minutes of the second half, Indiana found a way to get a gritty, and necessary win in the Schottenstein Center against the Buckeyes.
"You don’t like being in those positions very often, but the focus was there. We just, we didn’t quit. We just kept fighting and fighting until we finally made things bounce our way, and the result was a win,” said Head Coach Mike Woodson after the game.
With Kel’el Ware in foul trouble, Malik Raneau put the Hoosiers on his back once again. His technical foul in the first defensive possession of the second half was maybe the spark that gave the Hoosiers some more fight.
He led the Hoosiers with 26 points and 14 rebounds. Reneau plays with so much passion and emotion, Hoosier fans have to admire how badly he wants to win. And luckily for them tonight, he was able to play with those emotions in a calm, composed way, leading Indiana to victory.
He told the media after that in order for them to get back in the game they were "setting goals throughout the media timeouts. Alright, we want to cut it down to 10. Alright, let’s cut it down to six. Alright, let’s tie the game now. Already, let’s give ourselves the chance to win the game now."
While Malik helped lead the Hoosiers back to victory, it was also the two Indiana kids’ second half efforts that helped edge the Buckeyes.
Trey Galloway added 19 points and 4 rebounds in the second half. He came up big when he drew an offensive foul in the last 4 minutes when Indiana was down 65-63, giving the Hoosiers a much needed push.
But it was his long time teammate Anthony Leal who ultimately won the game for the Hoosiers. Galloway and Leal have played with each other for many years, and the trust built up from all those years together certainly showed tonight. Galloway found Leal in the corner to drain the 3 to give the Hoosiers the 1 point lead with 22.4 seconds to go.
“I feel so comfortable playing with him. We’ve been with each other since freshman year of high school. I trust him, he trusts me,” Trey Galloway told the media after the win.
Leal then went on to make both free throws to secure the Hoosiers a three point lead with just 2 seconds to go.
For a player who rarely saw the rotation last season and in the beginning of this season, his dedication and steady presence has come up big when the Hoosiers need it the most.
Coach Woodson spoke highly of “the confidence level [he has] on the floor. He had a wide-open shot, he took it and delivered it for us. That's what basketball is all about.”
Indiana Seniors and Malik Reneau can take credit for stepping up big to win this one tonight. They dug themselves in quite the hole, but they also dug themselves out of it.
The road ahead only gets tougher as they head to Mackey Arena on Saturday to take on rival Purdue. Tip is set for 8 pm.
Photo Credit: IU Athletics
