BLOOMINGTON — In a thrilling showcase of resilience, the Indiana Hoosiers outperformed the No. 14 Purdue Boilermakers in a commanding 73-58 victory at Assembly Hall on Sunday. The win marks a significant moment in the longstanding rivalry, as coach Mike Woodson’s team mounted an impressive 48-21 comeback in the second half, erasing a 12-point halftime deficit.
Indiana, now boasting a record of 16-11 and 7-9 in the Big Ten, demonstrated remarkable shooting efficiency in the latter half, converting 66.7% of their shots and averaging 1.5 points per possession. The Hoosiers also excelled defensively, causing 11 turnovers throughout the game.
The victory is crucial for Indiana, as it hampers Purdue’s chances of securing a third consecutive Big Ten title. The Boilermakers, with a current record of 19-9 and 11-6 in the conference, have now lost four consecutive games, marking their longest Big Ten losing streak since the 2019-20 season.
Malik Reneau was a standout performer, contributing 15 points on a perfect shooting night (7 of 7), alongside six rebounds and four assists. Trey Galloway excelled as well, delivering a game-high nine assists to help steer the Hoosiers’ offense. Reneau’s highlight moment came when he scored his first basket of the second half, bringing him to over 1,000 career points.
The Hoosiers took command early in the second half, outscoring Purdue 28-3 in the first eight minutes, effectively turning the tide of the game. In response, Purdue coach Matt Painter used multiple timeouts in a bid to slow Indiana’s momentum, but the Hoosiers’ intensity on both ends of the floor proved too formidable.
Defensively, Indiana’s Anthony Leal and Myles Rice made key contributions to limit Purdue’s offensive efforts, particularly targeting leading scorer Brendan Smith, who failed to score in the second half.
Purdue had previously ignited momentum with a 12-0 run toward the end of the first half, leading 37-25 at halftime after hitting six of seven three-pointers in a remarkable stretch. A notable moment included Fletcher Loyer’s buzzer-beater 3-pointer, which momentarily lifted the visiting team.
This significant win not only invigorates Indiana’s aspirations for a potential NCAA tournament bid but also sets a hopeful tone for the remainder of the season under Coach Woodson, who may be stepping down at the end of this year. The continued support from the fans at Assembly Hall remains a crucial factor as the team builds on this momentum.