Indiana Basketball: Top 10 games of the decade, #10

The Indiana Basketball team is still trying to rebuild as we head into the new decade. But before we do that we take a look at the top ten games of the decade starting with number 10.

It has been an up and down decade for the Hoosiers in basketball. They have been ranked number one and missed the tournament completely. They won two Big Ten regular-season championships and also finished a season with just 12 wins. But along the way, they have played some great basketball games.

We take a look at the top ten of the decade starting with number 10.

Indiana 80 Notre Dame 77 OT

Crossroads Classic 2017-18

The Hoosiers entered this game just 5-5 in Archie Miller’s first year as head coach. Notre Dame, on the other hand, came into the game ranked 18th in the country with an 8-2 record. They also had preseason All-American Bonzi Colson on their team. The Fighting Irish shouldn’t have had any trouble with the Hoosiers.

Throughout the first half and actually most of the game the Fighting Irish were in control. They led 31-25 at the half and after a TJ Gibbs layup with 2:01 left in the game, Notre Dame led by eight points and looked well on their way to a victory.

The problem for the Irish was Juwan Morgan was just getting started. Morgan was having a fairly decent game and had 15 points when Gibbs hit that layup. But then a switch went off and Morgan brought the Hoosiers all the way back.

Morgan would score the last eight points over the last two minutes to tie the game and after Austin Torres of Notre Dame missed two free throws with 0.8 seconds remaining, the game would go into overtime.

Morgan picked up right where he left off scoring the first eight points in overtime for the Hoosiers. It was a coming-out party for Morgan who would go on to have a very good career with Indiana.

All eyes were on Colson, he did finish with 29 points, but Morgan stole the show scoring 19 points in the last eight and half minutes of the game, including overtime, to finish with 34 points. It was one of the most dominating performances by a player during the decade for the Hoosiers.

Even with Morgan’s heroics the Hoosiers still trailed by three late when he hit a floater and got fouled. And although he missed the free throw, an offensive rebound by Zach McRoberts and feed to Morgan for a dunk put the Hoosiers ahead by one. A blocked three on the other end and two more free throws for the Hoosiers sealed the deal.

It was the biggest win in Miller’s first year and showed flashes of what the team was capable of. The 2017-18 season was mainly a disappointment but for one night, the Hoosiers fans felt like they were on top of the world, beating an in-state ranked rival.

Unfortunately, the momentum didn’t carry on throughout the season, but it still gives us one of the best games of the decade.