NCAA
Indiana 72, Ohio State 64
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — With Indiana star freshman Noah Vonleh out of the lineup, two other Hoosiers stars elevated their game Sunday at Assembly Hall.
Guard Yogi Ferrell scored 20 points and forward Will Sheehey added another 19 points to propel Indiana past No. 22 Ohio State 72-64.
It is the fourth ranked team Indiana has defeated this season. The Hoosiers have now knocked off back-to-back ranked teams after defeating No. 20 Iowa on Thursday.
Ohio State has now lost back-to-back road games after losing to Penn State on Thursday.
Indiana head coach Tom Crean tweeted about 30 minutes before the game was scheduled to tip that the Hoosiers would be playing without Vonleh, who is Indiana’s leading rebounder and second-leading scorer who missed the game with inflammation in his foot.
Indiana managed to overcome not playing without their best big man, as it never trailed in the second half and led for about a quarter of the first half.
The Buckeyes got to within one of the Hoosiers with 9:22 to go in the second half on Sunday, but the Hoosiers answered quickly with back-to-back 3-pointers from guard Evan Gordon and Sheehey to take a 54-47 lead.
Ohio State would get back to within three at 53-56, but sophomore forward Hanner Mosquera-Perea caught an pass from Ferrell near the rim and made the layup while getting fouled by Ohio State’s LaQuinton Ross, who fouled out on the play with 3:33 to go. Mosquera-Perea connected on the free throw to give IU a 59-53 advantage.
Guard Lenzelle Smith Jr. and Ross both scored 19 points for the Buckeyes.
Mosquera-Perea, who saw 15 minutes due to Vonleh’s absence, scored eight points.
At halftime, IU was in control with a 33-25 lead.
The Hoosiers went on a 16-0 run from the 7:54 mark to the 3:10 mark in the opening 20 minutes. During that run, Ohio State had two turnovers and missed four shots.
Indiana, meanwhile, scored points on six consecutive possessions.
Within that run, Ohio State forward LaQuinton Ross was called for a technical foul at the 4:06 mark after shoving Indiana forward Austin Etherington after a play. Ross missed two free throws for a foul that was called, while Ferrell made two free throws for Williams’ technical.
On IU’s possession after the free throws, Ferrell drained a 3-pointer to give the Hoosiers’ a 28-20 lead.
Before IU’s run, Ohio State led Indiana 20-12 at the 7:54 mark.
Indiana took its first lead at the 4:34 mark off of a 3-pointer from Sheehey.
The Buckeyes looked to be dominating the game with center Amir Williams in the game, but he came out with 11:04 to go in the half after picking up his second foul. Ohio State led 13-9 at that point.
Ohio State had run out to a 9-2 lead to start the game before IU started to fight back.
Sheehey and Ferrell both had 10 points at the break for Indiana.
NOTES: Indiana is now 3-8 against Ohio State in the Tom Crean era. … Indiana has defeated four ranked teams in Assembly Hall this season. … Ohio State went 0-11 from 3-point range. … Indiana connected on 24-50 field-goal attempts.
