Indiana Basketball: Phinisee hits buzzer beater

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 15: Rob Phinisee #10 of the Indiana Hoosiers hits the game-winning shot against the Butler Bulldogs in the second half of the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 15, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana won 71-68. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 15: Rob Phinisee #10 of the Indiana Hoosiers hits the game-winning shot against the Butler Bulldogs in the second half of the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on December 15, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Indiana won 71-68. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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What a game from our very own Mr. Indiana Basketball finalist. Robert Phinisee hits huge three to beat Butler.

Indiana trailed all game long against the Butler Bulldogs. In the first half they trailed by as many as 11 before cutting it to four just before the half. We expected a different game going into the second. Nonetheless Butler came out hot and continued their dominance as they ran out to a 10 point lead before Indiana started to click on all cylinders.

We have two Mr. Indiana Basketball’s on our squad this season. Romeo Langford the winner and Robert Phinisee a finalist. It was Phinisee who came up huge with a buzzer beater to down Butler at the last second. Juwan Morgan had another huge Crossroads Classic game. Morgan kept us in the game along the way. If it wasn’t for his huge three pointers and big time post play, Phinisee wouldn’t have had an opportunity to even win the game.

The Hoosiers still struggled with turnovers and free throws. All of that didn’t matter though as Morgan paced this team and showed his Senior leadership in a huge win that Indiana really needed to build their 2018 resume. Phinisee has come up huge the past two games with big shots. I think it’s safe to say the Hoosiers have the best freshman backcourt in the NCAA.

Morgan came up huge today for us as well. It’s definitely an understatement to say his presence effected how his teammates played going into the final minutes. This was such a huge win for Indiana basketball. The Crossroads Classic always delivers and today the Hoosiers were the victors and came away with their biggest comeback win of the young season.

This win should rejuvenate these young playmakers and encourage them going forward in what will be a really tough Big Ten schedule. The Big Ten is loaded with talent this season. The Hoosiers week by week keep proving they belong amongst the elites in 2018. Morgan’s stat line from today was 35 points, 12-14 from the field, 4-6 from beyond the arc and 7-7 from the charity stripe. Morgan and the Phinisee came up in a huge way to lead us to a very exciting victory.