Indiana Basketball: Top 10 games of the decade, #5

As the Indiana basketball team rolls into the new decade its time to take a look back over the past ten years. We rank the top ten games of the decade and today we look at number five.

Last year was a disappointing year for Indiana basketball, but it still produced some great games. We already talked about the overtime win against Michigan State and their other win against the Spartans just missed the cut.

Today we look at another game from the 2018-19 season as the Hoosiers were desperate for a win when the Badgers came to town.

Today we look at game number five of the top ten games of the decade.

Indiana 75 Wisconsin 73 – 2 OT

Bloomington, IN – February 26, 2019

The Hoosiers entered this game on a five-game losing streak and were on a 1-12 stretch that doomed their chances of making the NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin on the other hand, came into the game ranked 19th in the country and had All-Big Ten player Ethan Happ.

The Badgers were a heavy favorite in the game and jumped out to a five-point lead eight minutes into the game. But the Hoosiers flipped the script for the rest of the half and went into the break up four.

The second half started much the same way as the Hoosiers used an 8-2 run to take a ten-point lead just four minutes into the half. Indiana continued to play well up until the ten-minute mark when they lead by 13, but then the offense went cold.

Wisconsin would go on a 20-3 run to regain the lead and look like they had staved off the upset bid by the Hoosiers. The last six and a half minutes went back and forth with Indiana taking a two-point late, but D’Mitrik Trice hit two free throws with five seconds left to send the game into the first overtime.

The first overtime didn’t see much scoring as both teams only scored six points, but the Hoosiers did lead late again before Trice, again, kept the game alive with a three-pointer that sent it to a second overtime. It would be only one of two shots he made from the field all game long.

The second overtime was much of the same, with not much scoring. But Romeo Langford was finally able to win the game after Trice again tied it at 73 with nine seconds left.

Langford would take the inbounds and wouldn’t need anyone else to win the game. He drove to his right and hit a floating layup with 0.6 seconds left to give the Hoosiers the lead and the win.

Langford would finish with 22 points and seven rebounds, while Justin Smith, Al Durham and Rob Phinisee all scored in double figures. Langford would score nine of the points in the overtime periods including the game-winner.

Ethan Happ would lead the way for the Badgers with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Trice added 12, even though he didn’t shoot the ball well, but he came up with the big plays when the Badgers needed them.

The win for the Hoosiers was the first of four straight wins that about got them back into the tournament. It was a surprising result for a Hoosier team that had been struggling to win games. It was an exciting game that gave the Hoosier faithful something to cheer about at home.