Indiana basketball required another comeback against a quality Serbian club to wrap up the Puerto Rico trip, and it pulled it off in the final minute.
The Hoosiers scored last in an 81-80 win over Mega Superbet, closing a gap of 13 late in the third quarter which was whittled down to six with 1:58 to play in the fourth. Lamar Wilkerson had a pair of key assists, including finding a cutting Reed Bailey for a dunk with 6.6 seconds left to clinch a 3-0 weekend.
IU will take the wins, the offensive philosophy change and, mostly, coach Darian DeVries has film to take back, break down and assess from three games, including the Serbian club that has a second-round NBA draft pick in Bogoljub Markovic.
Here is a recap of IU’s win in the Puerto Rico finale.
And Wilkerson plays the defense that completes the comeback. More to come, but an exciting come-from-behind win to close out this tour against a tough opponent. Hoosiers finish 3-0.
IU 81, Mega 80, 6.6 seconds left 4Q: Lamar Wilkerson has had two absolute dimes in the last three minutes, including a drive and dump for a dunk to a cutting Reed Bailey just now to take the lead.
This second half (really the entire game) has been defined by the push and pull of Indiana trying to get him going as Mega tries to take him away. Hoosiers are within one stop of another comeback win.
Mega 80, IU 79, 39.6 seconds left 4Q: Quick timeout after Aleksa Ristic got his defender in the air with a fake and drove the lane for a smooth floater. It’s a small sample size, but there’s a lot to like and a lot to work with in his offensive game going forward. Good mechanics, great feel.
IU’s got it within one for the first time in ages. A third-straight stop would give the Hoosiers a chance to take the lead.
Mega 80, IU 74, 1:58 left 4Q: Coming down to the wire here. Indiana hasn’t hit enough 3s to take control of this game but the Hoosiers have allowed just 30 points since halftime, really digging in defensively.
Can they find enough scores and stops to get level again?
Meg 69, IU 63, 9:04 left 4Q: Consecutive and-1 conversions from Wilkerson and DeVries have the game as close as it’s been since the first quarter.
Indiana has improved defensively as this game has worn on, and Mega has once again looked a little bit short of the depth and fitness IU has. DeVries in particular is being more aggressive, but IU needs some 3s to fall if this is going to get level.
Note: While I was typing this, Mega responded with five quick points, and IU called timeout. Hoosiers just aren’t making enough shots to get control of this game the way they did Saturday.
Hoosiers played much better that quarter, including four made 3s.
Still struggling at times with needless fouls, which handed Mega enough free throws to keep the gap comfortable. If Indiana can keep Superbet off the free-throw line and run that caliber of offense for one more quarter, Hoosiers have a chance to come back here.
Still, it’s an uphill climb.
Conerway appears OK. Not sure if he’ll come back in today or not. Indiana can’t really afford more losses at guard.
Mega 62, IU 49, 1:17 left 3Q: Doesn’t look too serious, but he took a hard fall contesting a screen defensively and IU cycled him out as quickly as it could.
Hoosiers are hanging in, and the offense has generally functioned much better in this quarter, but they’re still not hitting enough open shots to close the gap meaningfully. Might be some end-of-trip fatigue setting in.
Mega 52, IU 39, 6:04 left 3Q: He has nine points since halftime, including a deep 3 just now that drew a timeout from Mega.
It’s been clear all game keeping him out of rhythm was Superbet’s No. 1 defensive objective in this game. It worked in the first half but he’s flashing both range and ruthlessness right now. With DeVries (and, really, everyone but Conerway) still relatively quiet today, Indiana needs Wilkerson to stay hot.
The Hoosiers pulled the game close mid-quarter, but the offense went stale again.
Mega has done an excellent job keeping Indiana’s chief options, DeVries and Wilkerson, out of rhythm, and the Hoosiers can’t figure out how to bring them back into the game. DeVries can’t find any space to operate when he’s on the ball. Wilkerson has only gotten one or two clean catches and clearly can’t find the rhythm he needs to score effectively.
Unofficially up here on what passes for press row, we have Conerway with 18 points. But as a team IU only has four assists on nine made field goals. Mega is smothering defensively right now. Will be interesting to see if DeVries and his staff can loosen anything up at halftime.
Mega 46, IU 28, 1:23 left 2Q: He just hit a turnaround over Tucker DeVries and then sank a 3 in transition. Unofficially I’ve got him with 11 points this half. Mega got him involved and he’s stayed that way.
It’s a good test for Darian DeVries’ team to try and figure out how to manage a player like this. They’re going to see talent at his level again this winter.
Also, it’s unrelated but: Indiana has run post-ups more often today, and it hasn’t worked well very often. Clearly not the way home for this team offensively.
Mega 33, IU 26, 4:50 left 2Q: Shades of Saturday night again, as Mega is starting to struggle with IU’s depth and experience.
Hoosiers are on a 19-7 run, anchored by much better defense and some big baskets around the rim (plus Conerway’s free throws). Mega calls timeout trying to stem the tide, but Indiana has rallied well late in the half.
Mega31, IU 21, 5:50 left 2Q: Jasai Miles has three. I believe Conor Enright has two.
This isn’t meant as an excuse at all. But these games are being officiated very differently to what IU can expect in the Big Ten. Moving screens essentially aren’t being called. Ball handlers have to deal with a lot more contact. But clear-path fouls and drive contact are being whistled much more tightly.
One player who has adjusted: Tayton Conerway, who by our unofficial count has drawn five fouls in less than 15 minutes of game action. He’s made 5-of-6 free throws on the back end.
Indiana rallied a bit there at the end of the quarter, when 3s started falling. The lead crested at 26-7 in the quarter, before the Hoosiers closed on an 8-0 run.
Once again, it feels like IU has needed some time to figure out how to navigate the way ball screens are being officiated. There were a couple offensive fouls on Mega late in the quarter once the Hoosiers adjusted.
But a lot of it is just shots falling. It’s not new news that this team needs to score to win. Its offense is ahead of its defense and will probably remain that way for at least a while. Hoosiers need that rhythm.
Mega 19, IU 5, 2:44 left 1Q: The Hoosiers haven’t had the same problems defensively, at least not to the same extent. But they aren’t generating quality looks at the other end and it shows.
There have been some breakdowns in screen situations and switches, which have led to open Mega 3s the Serbian side has been happy to make. But five points in more than seven minutes obviously speaks for itself. IU just isn’t getting quality shots right now.
Mega 14, IU 3, 4:58 left 1Q: Bogoljub Markovic, the Milwaukee Bucks draft pick who had a quiet game Saturday, already has three baskets here.
Mega is being more intentional about getting him into ball-screen situations and then capitalizing on Indiana’s switches. That’s another teaching point for this team moving forward, given its lack of size. Hoosiers will have to be aware and sometimes creative in how they navigate those actions when dealing with versatile wing/big hybrids like Markovic.
IU 2, Mega 0, 9:20 left 1Q: Sorry for the late start. Had some connectivity issues. But I’m here now.
Indiana runs the same starting five one more time: Enright, Wilkerson, Conerway, DeVries, Bailey, and the Hoosiers get a bucket on their first possession. Both teams bringing energy despite the early start.
The game against Mega Superbet tips off at 11 a.m. ET.
The event will not be televised or streamed.
