IU basketball: Ohio State 91 Indiana 78 — Three keys, highlights, final stats

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Indiana lost to Ohio State Saturday evening at Value City Arena by a final score of 91-78.

The three keys to the game, highlights and final stats are below.

Ohio State led 50-33 at halftime. The Hoosiers were led in the game by Lamar Wilkerson with 18 points. Tucker DeVries added 17.

For Darian DeVries and Reed Bailey postgame, GO HERE.

Indiana will be the No. 10 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and will play on Wednesday evening in Chicago.

THREE KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Abysmal defense. Ohio State torched Indiana’s defense. The Buckeyes started the game hot from the field and never really cooled down. For the game OSU shot 59.2% overall including 45.8% from three. But the first half was the real story, when OSU made 67.9% overall and 61.5% (8 of 13) from three. The live stats indicate the Buckeyes scored 1.56 points per possession in the first half.

2. OSU takes away the three. Take away the three, slow down IU’s offense. Indiana got up just eight attempts from long range in the first half and made just one. Yes, OSU made as many threes as IU attempted in the first half. Lamar Wilkerson and Tucker DeVries combined to go 0 of 5 from long range before the break. The Hoosiers came in averaging more than 51% of their field goal attempts from three, but took just 28.6% of their shots from beyond the arc in the first half. Things didn’t get much better after the break, and IU shot just 5 of 18 from deep for the game.

3. First half turnovers. Indiana added insult to injury in the first half with eight turnovers that resulted in 13 Ohio State points. Several of those opportunities resulted in live ball scenarios where the Buckeyes were able to score before IU’s defense was set. Seven different Indiana players had first half turnovers. Those miscues plus Ohio State’s hot shooting contributed to a 15-4 Buckeye close to the first half to give them their biggest first half margin (17) at the break.

HIGHLIGHTS