WEST LAFAYETTE — Behind a career performance by Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana swept its season streak with Purdue for the first time in a decade Saturday night, winning 79-71 at Mackey Arena. Here are three reasons why:
Jalen Hood-Schifino hangs hard
Indiana (20-9, 11-7) struggled through a first half of Extremes on Saturday. In front of a wild crowd at Mackey Arena, the Hoosiers started slow before digging in behind their freshman point guard.
Jalen Hood-Schifino was by far the best player on the floor for the first 20 minutes. Not necessarily the most influential, Zach Edey’s appeal giving him that distinction.
But Hood-Schifino was the difference, in a half when Indiana’s All-American Big Man, unusually, couldn’t find a footing at all. When Trayce Jackson-Davis finished the half with no points and just one field goal attempt (3) more than a foul (2), his freshman point guard rolled up 23.
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Additional space was granted by Purdue’s drop coverage on ball screens and Edey’s tie to Jackson-Davis, Hood-Schifino mixing in points on the edge, in the middle and behind the 3-point line.
A 12-to-4 free-throw discrepancy and Purdue’s superb offensive rebound work gave the hosts a 38-34 lead at halftime. But things could have turned out a lot worse for IU had it not been for Jalen Hood-Schifino’s brilliance. He finished with 35 points, a shy of IU’s freshman record set by Jay Edwards.
Hoosiers work the 3-point line
Making 3s wasn’t Indiana’s problem this season. For the first time in a long time, the Hoosiers are among the top-scoring teams in the Big Ten and the nation from afar.
Volume wasn’t always there, however. The Hoosiers are among college basketball teams with the lowest 3-point vulnerability, and that has come at a price in recent weeks.
Not Saturday night. With Hood-Schifino running the show and Jackson-Davis drawing attention, IU’s 3-point shooters were letting go early and often. Miller Kopp and Trey Galloway delivered crucial attacks to the Hoosiers from behind the arc and took advantage of how Purdue sold out to the quiet Jackson-Davis.
Answering Purdue runs, Big 3s calmed that crowd and kept Indiana within reach. As the Boilermakers began to struggle after halftime, the arc pushed the Hoosiers forward.
IU finished the night with 7 of 15 from a 3-point range, with those numbers representing both the most makes and tries by the Hoosiers in a single game in nearly a month.
Hoosiers stay tuned
Despite Jackson-Davis’ quiet night (10 points, eight rebounds, six assists) and almighty foul problems at the post due to Edey’s dominance, Indiana Purdue (24-5, 13-5) impressively outscored the second half, as did the Hoosiers throughout have played throughout the season.
IU accelerated and surpassed their host, finishing the game on a plus 12 point after halftime. Jackson-Davis was still scoring in double figures after half-time and filling the stat sheet despite problems of his own in other crucial areas. Galloway and Kopp both scored in double figures. And Hood-Schifino never stopped scoring, finishing with a game and career high of 35 points.
Indiana’s control of the game was so calm that by the end, the Hoosiers were met not so much with hostility as with silence. Purdue fans had already signed up for the exits.
Follow IndyStar reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.