Indiana basketball rallied back from down 16 points to beat Maryland on the road 83-78 and sweeping the season series in the process.
The Hoosiers outscored the Terrapins 50-35 in the second half and went on a massive 15-0 run en route to the victory. Indiana held Maryland without a point for a 5:55 stretch during the 15-0 run where they extended their lead to double digits.
A massive part of the second-half success was the play of sixth-year senior guard Xavier Johnson.
Johnson came off the bench but was subbed into the game, immediately in the second half and made his impact felt. Johnson played 19 minutes in the second half and had 8 points, 4 assists, and was a team-high +20 while on the floor.
“He’s so great at what he does,” Mackenzie Mgbako said about Johnson’s impact “Being able to move the ball in transition and get downhill at an amazing pace and find the players for the open shot.”
Johnson finished the game with 13 points and a game-high six assists while shooting 5-7 from the field.
“We’ve struggled to put the ball in the hole and tonight it all came together a little bit,” Mike Woodson said about the second-half comeback. “I think X had a lot to do with it being out there and taking some of the pressure off Gabe [Cupps].”
Johnson made his presence felt as Indiana was able to get out in transition. They scored 14 of their 20 fast break points in the second half.
Johnson has missed most of the last two seasons due to injuries and has constantly been referred to as the missing piece during Indiana basketball’s struggles this season and he showed what Indiana has been missing for much of the year on Sunday.
“He’s a senior and I expect him to lead. That’s what seniors do, I’ve been in those shoes and I know what it’s like,” Woodson said about Johnson. “It’s been tough for him, the guy’s been hurt. … It’s his last year, he can’t come back, he has nowhere else to go. So you gotta pat him, show him some love.”
Sunday felt like a glimpse into what could have been if Indiana had Johnson healthy for the entire season and it is something Woodson has been adamant about all season.
“I would like to think things would have been a lot different if we had X in a lot of those games that we let get away,” Woodson said.
Johnson’s experience and leadership have been missing from this young Indiana basketball team and Johnson recognizes that.
“I add experience. I do a couple of things that’s head rocking, but I’m a player,” Johnson said. “I make mistakes and I’m going to try to get it right back.”
While there have been moments where he has made some “head-rocking” decisions during this season, Sunday showed how important Johnson is for this team.
Indiana’s defense stepped up in the second half and Johnson’s ball pressure on Maryland’s guards was a big part of the reason for the flip at the half.
“I thought X was Xavier Johnson. He did a lot of good things on the floor from a defensive standpoint,” Woodson said postgame. “But just controlling the game along with [Trey Galloway].”
With his family in attendance, Johnson had one of his most productive performances of the season on both ends of the court.
“It’s very important because this is where I’m from. To me growing up here, it’s been a long ride and it’s almost coming to an end,” Johnson said about his family. “… They’re my backbone so it’s important for them to be there for me.”
While Johnson’s college career is coming to an end, he recognized the importance of the final two games and the upcoming conference tournament for Indiana basketball.
“I was just playing team basketball. … I really wanted to win this game because I’ve been gone for half of the season and I think this last stretch is important for us,” Johnson said.
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