Robert Johnson catches fire, IU holds on for 84-82 win over Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa – A frantic game, which saw Iowa and IU both take 13-point leads at various points, came down to a panicked last possession Saturday.

Iowa’s two-shot try to tie or win couldn’t find the bottom of the net, the Hoosiers squeezing out an 84-82 win in Iowa City. IU (16-12, 9-7) senior guard Robert Johnson finished with a game-high 29 points.

Here are Three Reasons Why the Hoosiers came out winners:

INSIDER:Suddenly, postseason back in play for surging IU

Robert Johnson found his shot

No one has embodied Indiana’s puzzling retreat behind the 3-point line this season more than Johnson.

IU’s senior guard had never shot worse than 37 percent from behind the arc in any of his previous three seasons, and he hit nearly 45 percent of his 3s as a sophomore. Yet when play began Saturday, Johnson was draining just 34.2 of his 3-pointers, his struggles mirroring the Hoosiers’.

How many times this season has Archie Miller bemoaned the open shots his team just can’t seem to hit?

Johnson dialed in early and released some frustration on Iowa Saturday afternoon, hitting nine 3s (tying a program record) and finishing with a game-high 29 points. His early second-half surge propelled Indiana from trailing at the break to up 13, and it was when he went quiet that the Hawkeyes could dig in and come back.

Defense did not travel

The Hoosiers’ recent defensive renaissance hit a snag Saturday in snowy Iowa City.

Iowa made its first 10 shots, shot more than 70 percent from the floor in the first half and finished the game averaging 1.19 points per possession.

This, against an Indiana team that had the best adjusted defensive efficiency in league play, per Ken Pomeroy, coming in. Needless to say, that number sagged after Saturday’s performance.

Hoosiers won ugly

It’s an unscientific and nonetheless enviable skill, and Indiana had just about enough of it Saturday. 

A Freddie McSwain rolling layup in the game’s final minute gave Indiana a two-point lead. After an empty Iowa possession, Johnson missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Iowa called timeout but whatever the Hawkeyes drew up didn’t work. Jordan Bohannon’s off-balance 3-pointer was wide, and while Tyler Cook roughed up IU all afternoon — he finished with 28 points and 10 rebounds — his last-second shot rimmed off.

Indiana guaranteed itself at least a .500 conference record with the win.

Follow IndyStar reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.

INDIANA 84, IOWA 82

INDIANA (16-12) — Morgan 5-9 1-1 12, McSwain 2-5 0-0 4, McRoberts 1-3 0-0 2, Green 7-10 0-0 18, Johnson 10-14 0-1 29, Hartman 0-3 0-0 0, Smith 5-7 5-7 15, Durham 0-1 0-0 0, Newkirk 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 32-57 6-9 84.

IOWA (12-17) — Nunge 2-3 2-2 8, Garza 6-8 4-4 17, Cook 9-15 10-12 28, Moss 2-4 0-0 5, Bohannon 3-12 2-2 10, Kriener 0-0 0-0 0, Pemsl 1-1 0-0 2, Baer 1-3 0-0 3, Wagner 1-1 0-0 2, Ellingson 0-0 0-0 0, Dailey 2-2 1-2 7. Totals 27-49 19-22 82.

Halftime—Iowa 45-42. 3-Point Goals—Indiana 14-24 (Johnson 9-12, Green 4-5, Morgan 1-2, Hartman 0-1, Durham 0-1, Newkirk 0-1, McRoberts 0-2), Iowa 9-21 (Dailey 2-2, Nunge 2-3, Bohannon 2-10, Garza 1-1, Baer 1-2, Moss 1-3). Fouled Out—Smith. Rebounds—Indiana 19 (Green 4), Iowa 31 (Cook 10). Assists—Indiana 23 (Green 6), Iowa 20 (Bohannon 7). Total Fouls—Indiana 19, Iowa 15.