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Indiana Basketball’s tournament hopes on life support after overtime loss to Ohio State

Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23) watches his team's lead slip away during overtime in Monday's NCAA Division I basketball game agaisnt the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena in Columbus, Oh., on February 21, 2022. The Buckeyes won the game 80-69 in overtime.Ceb Osumbk 0220 Bjp 30
Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23) watches his team's lead slip away during overtime in Monday's NCAA Division I basketball game agaisnt the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena in Columbus, Oh., on February 21, 2022. The Buckeyes won the game 80-69 in overtime.Ceb Osumbk 0220 Bjp 30

Indiana Basketball is on a five-game losing streak after falling in overtime. Are the Hoosiers’ postseason dreams in major trouble?

Indiana Basketball lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes, 80-69. The game went to overtime after the Hoosiers blew a four-point lead late.

Ohio State was led offensively by Makai Branham. Branham scored 27 points on 69 percent shooting. Although The Hoosiers couldn’t stop Branham they were very good at limiting star E.J Liddell. Liddell scored 16 points on 40 percent shooting. On the season, the Hoosiers defense was very good at limiting Liddell. In the previous matchup, Liddell scored 11 points on 25 percent shooting. This is impressive because Liddell averages 19 points per game on the season.

Indiana struggled to score offensively. Their highest scorer had 16 points. Xavier Johnson led the Hoosiers in scoring. He scored most of his points from the free-throw line. Johnson went 10 of 10 from the free-throw line. Johnson did not shoot well from the floor.  He shot 3 of 12 from the floor. Additionally, Johnson went 0 for 3 from the three-point line.

With little time left, Indiana had a two-point lead. Ohio State had the ball. Branham was driving to the basket with the ball. Race Thomspon and Xaiver Johnson both went to cover the shooter at the three-point line. This led to an open layup for Liddell at the basket. Indiana would have gotten the stop if Xavier Johnson and Race Thompson didn’t mess up the defensive switch.

In overtime, the Hoosiers faced the same offensive struggles they have had all season.  Indiana would only score 6 points in Overtime. The Buckeyes scored 17 points in overtime.

This was a devastating loss for Indiana. This loss was very bad for their tournament hopes. Before their recent five-game skid, the Hoosiers seemed like a lock for the tournament. Now Indiana will need to win three out of their next four to make the tournament.

While beating Maryland and Minnesota is very doable, beating a surging Rutgers team will be challenging for this squad.  The final game the Hoosiers have this season is against Purdue. Although they have beaten Purdue earlier this season, this game will be in West Lafayette.

Ohio State keeps their chances at a first-round bye in the Big Ten tournament alive with a win. Rutgers is a half-game back of Ohio State for the fourth spot. Getting a first-round bye for the Buckeyes is the most important objective for the rest of the regular season.

While the big ten regular-season title is still a goal for this team, the Buckeyes are two games back with three teams ahead of them. If they can take care of their matchups against Maryland, Nebraska, Michigan, and one of the matchups against Michigan State or Illinois, the Buckeyes should have a first-round bye for the Big Ten Tournament.