Big Ten championship on hold after Indiana's second half takes down No. 5 Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE – The consolation from Saturday’s loss to Indiana is Purdue can still earn a share of the Big Ten title by watching television Sunday.

The Hoosiers denied the fifth-ranked Boilermakers a chance to celebrated another conference championship following the 79-71 setback at Mackey Arena.

Purdue can earn a share of the championship if Northwestern loses to Maryland on Sunday. Otherwise, the next opportunity is Thursday at Wisconsin.

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Brandon Newman’s 3-pointer from the top of the key before halftime gave Purdue a 38-34 lead and a dunk by Caleb Furst pushed the advantage to 40-34 early in the second half.

But it was all Hoosiers after that. IU used a 17-2 run during the next five minutes to take control and sweep the regular-season series for the first time since 2013.

Jalen Hood-Schifino carried the 17^th-ranked Hoosiers in the first half, scoring 23 points while Trayce Jackson-Davis was scoreless. Hood-Schifino found his shooting touch on the road and finished with a career-high 35 points.

“He had a tremendous game for us and we needed it,” Indiana coach Mike Woodson said. “In the second half, it was an unbelievable combination of defense and putting the ball in the bucket.”

Trey Galloway stepped up after halftime, scoring eight points before the first timeout. Galloway and Miller Kopp each had 13.

Zach Edey totaled 26 points and 16 rebounds and Fletcher Loyer added 14.

The Boilermakers missed 12 of their first 16 attempts to start the second half. Purdue was 3 of 15 from 3-point range after halftime and 5 of 23 for the game.

“I believe in our guys. I believe in their ability to shoot the basketball and shoot wide open shots and make them. We’ve got to be better,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said.

‘WE DIDN’T TAKE ADVANTAGE’

Just like in Bloomington, Purdue dominated the Hoosiers in the rebounding department but had too many turnovers. Saturday, the Boilermakers held a 16-rebound advantage again, but it wasn’t the turnovers that did them in.

Along with Indiana’s hot second-half shooting, Purdue couldn’t find its touch. The Boilermakers shot 30.3% in the second half, including numerous from close range and missed six free throws – and 11 for the game.

Purdue was 5 of 13 on layups.

“They played so well in the first eight, 10 minutes but we had so many shots at the rim,” Painter said. “When you outrebound somebody by 16 and you shoot 21 more free throws, that is an unbelievable advantage. We didn’t take advantage of it and didn’t finish at the rim.

“We didn’t make some shots like we should. I didn’t think it was a poor effort. They competed. They were better than us. They made shots and we didn’t, but you can’t get down and expect to make a run if you can’t make stops.”

SECOND-HALF RUN

It’s a play the Boilermakers have run numerous times this season. Edey is doubled teamed, Furst dives from the baseline and receives a pass from the 7-foot-4 junior and dunks.

That was Purdue’s first two points of the second half, pushing the lead to six. It was really the last offensive highlight for the Boilermakers, who were buried by Indiana’s impressive five-minute stretch.

Basically, the game was over after the Hoosiers grabbed a double-digit lead.

And it wasn’t just Hood-Schifino who did the damage. Galloway and Kopp hit big shots after Purdue’s defense doubled inside. The momentum grew the more Indiana made shots and the Boilermakers struggled to find the basket.

“They made shots, and we didn’t,” Edey said.

Simple but true.

Galloway and Kopp made Purdue pay for its double teams inside against Jackson-Davis. They combined for 11 of Indiana’s first 17 points after halftime.

“When you’re doing to go and double, you can’t let them out of the double and they had some clear passes,” Painter said. “There were some risks involved. We do it, not because it’s Trayce Jackson-Davis, but we double a lot, but we don’t double off the lane a lot. If you’re going to double him and not limit his vision, people are going to get open shots.”

The energy the Boilermakers had to start the game, thanks to the play of Furst in the first four minutes, disappeared when the Hoosiers started pulling away.

“They came out with more energy than us in the first five minutes in the second half,” Furst said. “That’s something we try to harp on to do ourselves a lot. We didn’t do it today.”

‘HE WAS FABULOUS’

The freshman’s numbers on the road were awful before Saturday.

Hood-Schifino has been solid at home but has struggled to find a consistent rhythm away from Assembly Hall. That changed, at least for one night.

He was 14 of 24 from the field and also grabbed seven rebounds. He took advantage of the drop coverage and landed in his sweet spot too many times.

Once Hood-Schifino got going in the first half, he was difficult to slow down.

“Everybody in this room knows he’s a good player,” said Newman, who added eight points. “He gets to his spots really well, plays at his own pace. You’ve got to make it tough for him. Every possession, no free looks. You’ve got to make him work for everything.”

The Hoosiers ran the pick and roll with Hood-Schifino and didn’t deviate from the plan, despite Jackson-Davis not being involved heavily in the offense throughout Saturday’s game.

“He was fabulous,” Painter said of Hood-Schifinio. “He killed us in Bloomington getting into some actions. We tried to keep him off his right hand. He sent a news flash that he can play off his left hand. He was really good.

“To be able – and I don’t know if it’s the right word – to bottle up Trayce Jackson-Davis because he didn’t get a lot of attempts. If you would’ve told me that he would have 10 (points), and eight (rebounds), I think we would be sitting pretty.”