What a day in Bloomington.
Indiana held on to beat Wisconsin 78–77 in overtime, pushing its record to 16–8 overall and 7–6 in Big Ten play with a victory that mattered — for confidence, for résumé, for grit.
After leading most of the afternoon and watching Wisconsin claw back — erasing a big halftime edge and forcing extra time — this one came down to late defensive grit and clutch free throws.
And once again, Indiana found a way.
Lamar Wilkerson led the way with 25 points, including the game-winning pair at the line with two seconds left after a key foul.
Sam Alexis had arguably his best game as a Hoosier, with 19 efficient points (9 of 10 shooting), seven rebounds and five blocks.
Tucker DeVries scored 16 and grabbed six rebounds, and Conor Enright had 11 — including a huge late charge on defense that helped swing momentum.
This was a game Indiana needed — a top-tier, Quad 1-type win on the home floor against a Wisconsin team that has been one of the league’s most consistent winners.
With Assembly Hall fully behind them, this felt like our game. The crowd was loud, electric, and right with the Hoosiers the whole afternoon. Late in the game, Coach Darian DeVries cued them up, raising a hand and urging them to get louder as Wisconsin tried to take control. And after it was over, he stood on the court with a thumbs-up to the fans — a small moment that said it all: this felt like us.
There were critics today — some fans and commentators questioned parts of IU’s execution late — but let’s keep this in perspective: Indiana has now won four of its last five, including big wins at UCLA and Purdue. This team competes. It finds a way. It refuses to go away.
Yes, there were late mistakes. Yes, Wisconsin made enough plays to force overtime. But Indiana made the ones that mattered in crunch time — a defensive stop when they needed it, a clutch free throw when it counted, hustle plays that tilted the balance.
This is exactly the kind of character win people talk about on Selection Sunday. Led most of the game. Didn’t panic. Won in overtime — against a talented opponent at Assembly Hall.
It’s big for momentum. Big for confidence. Big for belief.
And now, after a win like this, it’s time to embrace it: Still learning. Still scrapping. Still very much in the hunt. 🔴⚪
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