It’s a moment that will live in Indiana basketball history: No. 21 Indiana upset No. 1 Purdue 79-74 on Saturday in a thrilling game at Assembly Hall in Bloomington. Trayce Jackson-Davis scored 25 points and Jalen Hood-Schifino delivered the clinching basket on a dunk with two seconds left to seal the victory.
The Hoosiers (16-7, 7-5 Big Ten) have now won both of their home games against their archrival under second-year coach Mike Woodson, and this was Indiana’s fourth total win at Assembly Hall over a top-ranked team. The crowd roared and rushed the court after the final buzzer sounded, celebrating the upset.
Zach Edey had an incredible performance for Purdue, finishing with 33 points and 18 rebounds. He also became the 15th player in school history with 700 career rebounds. Edey had Purdue in position to win late, opening the second half by scoring eight of the Boilermakers’ first 10 points to cut a 15-point halftime deficit to nine.
The Boilermakers (22-2, 11-2) had held 24 consecutive opponents to 70 or fewer points before the Hoosiers ended that streak. Indiana shot 62.1% from the field and Purdue had 11 turnovers, which resulted in 12 points for IU.
Still, Edey almost single-handedly brought Purdue back. But Race Thompson made two free throws, Hood-Schifino scored on a layup and Trey Galloway made two more free throws. Hood-Schifino then closed it out with the breakaway dunk off a perfectly designed inbound pass.
The win was a huge statement for Indiana and could have major implications for the rankings. Purdue began Saturday as the only Division I team with one loss, so a second loss may not necessarily knock them out of the top spot. Indiana, which reappeared in the Top 25, last week solidified its ranking and may even move up despite losing at Maryland earlier in the week.
The game was also special for Indiana Athletics Hall of Fame radio announcer Don Fischer, who was honored at halftime for calling his 50th season of play-by-play. He received a No. 50 jersey and celebrated with most of the color analysts he’s worked with. During the final media timeout, the Hoosiers thanked ESPN color analyst Dick Vitale with a video tribute to his career.
It was a special day for Indiana basketball and a reminder of why it’s one of the top teams in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers will look to keep the momentum going when they host Rutgers on Tuesday.
Source: www.wthr.com