Indiana Basketball: 3 Takeaways from Gritty win against Ohio State

Sophomore forward Malik Reneau scored 19 of his game-high 23 points in the second half of Indiana's 71-65 comeback victory against the Ohio State Buckeyes Saturday night. There was a lot of good, some bad, and a pinch of ugly in the win for the Hoosiers. Head coach Mike Woodson will take the win, however.

TheyReneau was the fire behind an 11-2 run early in the second half that tied the game at 48. He scored nine of the 11 points in that run. It was a game of momentum shifts with both teams going on extended scoring runs throughout the game. However, Indiana was the better team down the stretch. The did the little things well, something they did not do against Nebraska.

andThe Hoosiers made free throws late in the game as well as played superb perimeter defense to contest three-point shots when Ohio State attempted to regain the lead late in the game.

Saturday was a big win as the Hoosiers continue a tough month in the Big Ten. Here are three takeaways.

Homecourt was Crucial in this Game

Contrasting Saturday night's game with last Wednesday's game on the road, it was obvious that Assembly Hall was a significant difference maker. The stadium was at 95 percent capacity and the crowd was electric all night. Chants of "IU! IU!" rang throughout the arena all night long. That energy helped the Hoosiers Saturday night. was apparent

When you are a team relying on young, inexperienced players, that energy on the road can be deflating, much like it was against Nebraska. However, the opposite can be true at home games. The Hoosiers fed off the crowd during times when Ohio State led. The extraordinary Assembly Hall crowd helped Indiana claw its way back into the game until it led.