With 54 seconds remaining in the second half, Xavier Johnson stepped to the line to shoot two free throws with a chance to tie the game against No. 10 Illinois. Despite a terrific performance, neither free throw went down, and the Fighting Illini converted on the other end extending their lead to four. Illinois held on to win 70-62 in State Farm Center Saturday afternoon, increasing Indiana’s losing streak to three.
“That was the difference,” Indiana head coach Mike Woodson said. “Close games on the road, anywhere, you’ve gotta make free throws. We were 12-for-22 so that was not good for our ball club and we missed them at critical times when we needed them, but I was pleased with the way we had a week to work and prepare for this team.”
Indiana was short handed once again as Kel’el Ware missed his second consecutive game due to a lower right foot injury. Anthony Walker started in place of Ware and Johnson made his return to the starting lineup. Johnson finished with 14 points and four rebounds for the Hoosiers.
“It’s promising,” Woodson said. “At the end of the day if we’re going to go anywhere, [Johnson] and [Trey Galloway]… our seniors are going to have to lead.”
Woodson added that Indiana’s freshman and sophomores are figuring it out and don’t have as much experience as their peers. Despite this, underclassmen Malik Reneau and Mackenzie Mgbako stepped up for Indiana.
“Malik’s been solid man,” Woodson said. “He’s a sophomore that’s starting to figure it out. He’s improved from the time he came in here as a freshman and I can’t help but think he’ll continue to grow if he continues to work, which he does, so I’m pleased with Malik.”
Mgbako recorded his first career double-double, posting 12 points and 12 rebounds through 37 minutes. With Ware’s absence and Reneau fouling out, the 6’8” New Jersey native put the next man up mentality on full display.
“Think back to where we started with him, it was a struggle.” Woodson said. “He didn’t know any defensive rotations… and that’ll come, I just think he needs more reps at it. Sometimes you gotta fail to be successful.”
Woodson says he is pleased with Mgbako’s work ethic in practice and believes he will also continue to grow and improve.
“I just feel like we were together as a team today,” Mgbako said. “We played more together with a lot more effort, and there was more readiness. Readiness on the ball on defense and offense.”
It was a far from perfect afternoon for Indiana. They went 0-for-9 from beyond the arc -- their first time without a three-pointer since Feb. 25, 2010 -- and missed 10 free throws including crucial ones down the stretch. The Hoosiers also scored just two bench points off of two total shots. Nonetheless, Woodson believes the eight-day hiatus between games allowed his team to prepare and follow their game plan successfully.
“It’s a fine line to win on the road man,” Woodson said. “You got to do almost everything right, like make your free throws, don’t go 0-for-9 from shooting the three-point ball, and we had good looks we just didn’t make them.”
Indiana shot 46% from the field as a team (25-for-54) compared to Illinois’ 37%.
“It’s just tough knowing that we tried our best, a lot of effort, but we just learn from it and move on to the next one,” Mgbako said.
Indiana falls to 12-8 on the season (4-5 in Big Ten play) and are now 0-7 in Quad 1 games. With another challenge against the Iowa Hawkeyes at home on Tuesday, the Hoosiers’ hopes of a post-season tournament are dwindling exponentially.
