Indiana men’s basketball didn’t go down easily against USC.
The Hoosiers managed to stay in the game and put pressure on the Trojans to close out Tuesday’s contest, even when USC appeared positioned to pull away. IU turned a 10-point deficit into just two in a span of just over four minutes at the end of the game.
But that fight stands as one of the few positives Indiana displayed on Tuesday; a bright spot on a night that didn’t feature many of them. Darian DeVries’ squad just couldn’t get enough going at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, falling 81-75 to the Trojans.
“I just didn’t think we had the same tenacity that we’ve had here these last few games,” DeVries said after the game. “We seemed a little half a step slow tonight. Kept trying to battle. Kept trying to get back into it. Gave a nice little run there late to give ourselves a chance. But unfortunately just couldn’t come up with that one more play to get us over the top.”
DeVries didn’t have a specific reason in mind as to why the Hoosiers (15-8, 6-6 Big Ten) were ‘half a step slow’ in this game.
Indiana was coming off a double-overtime game against UCLA on Saturday, which could’ve led to some heavy legs in the ensuing days. But DeVries said the team entered Tuesday well-prepared after some good practice days, and then just didn’t have the necessary juice during the game.
Guard Lamar Wilkerson suggested the extended road trip may have caught up with the Hoosiers.
“It was just one of them games, man. I don’t like to make excuses, but it’s a hard trip, man. That’s why a lot of people don’t come out here and be successful on these two-game road trips in California. We’ve been out here for a week, (we’re) tired, fatigued, stuff like that. But I don’t make excuses for it. We got to do better, and we’ll figure it out.”
IU just didn’t get enough production from anyone other than Wilkerson. The Sam Houston State transfer accounted for more than half of Indiana’s scoring, shooting 11 for 20 for 33 points. No other Hoosier had more than eight points.
Wilkerson, despite his efforts, finished minus-one on the night. But the rest of IU’s starting lineup posted plus-minus numbers far worse: Conor Enright was minus-seven, Nick Dorn finished minus-nine, Tucker DeVries minus-10, and Sam Alexis minus-13. Those other four starters shot a combined 8 for 26.
USC (17-6, 6-6) also dominated in rebounding, with a 40-25 edge and 11 offensive boards. Indiana has had its struggles on the glass throughout the season, but that could also be a sign of tired legs in this instance.
“I didn’t think we were hitting as well as making as much contact as we had been. I thought we gave them some free runs at the basket. Some of them, we were in some rotations where we were coming late to get to them,” DeVries said. “Overall, just wasn’t quite what we wanted.”
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