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COLUMBUS, Ohio – It was an uninspired effort for Indiana for the first 20 minutes against Ohio State.
The group looked worn out and found itself with a 13-point deficit in a dull first half. The energy was low and when they walked away at the halftime bell, the positive vibes surrounding the team were non-existent.
Indiana had every reason to give up and call it a day. It seemed like the episode that unfolded against Penn State three days earlier would be repeated: no effort, no energy, another loss.
But when the Hoosiers went to the 15-minute break, the mentality changed.
There were four minutes and 32 seconds left on the stadium clock for halftime, counting down the start to the second half. The entire Indiana team had just walked out into the hallway, preparing to rush onto the court, but when the team was about to take a step onto the court, Trey Galloway called everyone back. Everyone turned their heads and gathered around their senior captain. A small group formed and each player listened.
“Play for each other,” Galloway exclaimed. “It’s about ourselves.”
Then, as a group, Indiana went back to running for the second half.
Galloway’s brief but effective halftime speech opened the door to Indiana’s biggest comeback since 1998. Backed by the efforts of Galloway, Anthony Leal and Malik Reneau in the second half, Indiana was able to rally Tuesday night and earn a 76-73 victory against Ohio State at Value City Arena. Mike Woodson has been asking his players to rise to the occasion, and against the Buckeyes, his wish finally came true.
Indiana had nothing to do in the first half, but the second half surge came into play when it was started by both Galloway and Leal. The duo combined for 25 points, six assists and nine rebounds in the second half, being the most important factors on the court.
At the end of the game is when the duo mattered the most. With five minutes left, Galloway recovered the ball for his team after an offensive foul was called on Bruce Thornton. A few plays later, Galloway was the one to pass it to Leal for a corner 3-pointer with 22 seconds left to take a one-point lead. The connection between the two point guards late in the game makes it easier to see how this comeback came to fruition.
“When I think back to when I played, coach always trusted the older players to lead and do the things to help us win,” Woodson said. “I thought Gallo was huge tonight in the second half. Our defense was solid; We held this team to 31 points. That was the difference in the ball game. Gallo in the final stretch, and then Leal making the big three. “It was huge.”
But the seniors were not alone in the comeback effort.
Indiana’s leading scorer, Malik Reneau, finished with 26 points and 14 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Reneau continued to show his improvement and scored 16 of his 26 points in the second half. When Indiana needed a basket, it turned to Reneau. The second-year forward provided a solid defensive presence along with the offense.
“He’s very talented,” Leal said. “It’s basically impossible to defend there without fouling, so that and then the combination of last year learning from two guys who were great veterans in Race (Thompson) and Trayce (Jackson-Davis).”
It’s been a long season for Indiana, and for the first 22 minutes, it looked like the Hoosiers would hit another low point. Instead, this group showed that they would still put up a fight. After Saturday’s debacle against Penn State, the victory put Indiana’s spirits back in the right direction.
The Hoosiers now have a comeback Big Ten road win on their ledger thanks to a pair of senior guards and a freshman who has blossomed into one of the league’s best offensive players.
“Everyone who was playing tonight knew what was at stake,” Woodson said. “We have been fighting and this was a game where we knew we had to come and play well because they would not forget what happened at our place. I think they played very well in the first half and maintained a comfortable lead. It was our defense, our rebounding and our good offensive decisions down the stretch that allowed us to come out here and get the win.”
(Photo credit: IU Athletics)
Filed Under: Anthony Leal, Malik Reneau, Ohio State Buckeyes, Trey Galloway