Indiana Grits Out 77-76 Overtime Win Against Ohio State in Thrilling Big Ten Matchup
The Indiana Hoosiers narrowly avoided another crushing loss, pulling off a hard-fought 77-76 overtime victory against Ohio State in Columbus. After back-to-back 25-point defeats, the Hoosiers desperately needed a win, and despite surrendering a late 10-point lead, they showed resilience and composure to secure the road victory in a pivotal Big Ten clash.
Late Collapse Forces Overtime
With just over five minutes remaining in regulation, Indiana appeared to be in control. A jumper by Luke Goode extended the Hoosiers’ lead to 68-58, and when Kanaan Carlyle added a layup with 3:27 left, the lead seemed secure at nine points. However, Ohio State had no intention of rolling over.
The Buckeyes ramped up the pressure with an aggressive full-court press that disrupted Indiana’s rhythm. Turnovers became costly, including a critical one when Trey Galloway was trapped near the corner, leading to a Micah Parrish dunk. John Mobley Jr.’s deep three-pointer with 38 seconds left capped a 10-1 Ohio State run to tie the game at 71-71.
Indiana had a chance to win it in regulation, but Goode’s close-range attempt missed, and Oumar Ballo failed on two consecutive putback opportunities. Ohio State couldn’t capitalize either, sending the game into overtime.
Goode Shines in Crunch Time
Overtime was a low-scoring affair, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. Luke Goode came up big once again, nailing a clutch three-pointer with 1:07 remaining to put Indiana ahead 77-76. The Hoosiers then held firm on defense as Anthony Leal blocked Mobley Jr.’s shot, and Bruce Thornton’s final three-point attempt rimmed out.
Goode was the star of the night, finishing with a career-high 23 points. The senior shot 7-of-14 from the field, 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line. His timely shooting was critical, especially with Mackenzie Mgbako continuing to struggle offensively.
Key Contributions from Carlyle and Ballo
Kanaan Carlyle stepped up when Indiana needed him most. With Myles Rice in foul trouble early, Carlyle played significant minutes and delivered an efficient performance. The Stanford transfer scored 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting, including several key drives to the basket in the second half. He also contributed four rebounds and an assist without committing a turnover in his 36 minutes on the court.
Meanwhile, Oumar Ballo continued to dominate in the paint, finishing with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting and grabbing 15 rebounds. His presence inside gave Ohio State fits all night, as they struggled to contain his physicality.
Mgbako’s Continued Struggles
Sophomore Mackenzie Mgbako’s shooting woes persisted, adding to Indiana’s challenges. He went 1-of-5 from the field and has now hit just 4-of-29 in his last four games. Despite a perfect 4-of-4 mark from the free-throw line, Mgbako played only five minutes in the second half and sat out the entirety of overtime.
A Much-Needed Quad 1 Win
This victory couldn’t have come at a better time for the Hoosiers. After consecutive blowout losses, their season seemed to be spiraling. However, the gritty win against Ohio State serves as a morale boost and a potential turning point. Securing a Quad 1 road victory in the Big Ten is no small feat, and the Hoosiers will look to build on this momentum moving forward.
While this win doesn’t solve all of Indiana’s issues, it showed their ability to fight through adversity and close out a tough game on the road—a trait they’ll need to sustain in the battles ahead.
