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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana Hoosiers needed a win in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament as they faced the Michigan Wolverines in Juwan Howard’s first game back from suspension. So, how did the Cream and Crimson respond to their last “win-and-you’re-in” game of the season? By making history.

The Hoosiers overcame a 17-point second half deficit, defeating Michigan 74-69.

Despite having Trey Galloway back in the lineup and available, Mike Woodson went with his usual starting five for the Big Ten Tournament. Xavier Johnson, Parker Stewart, Miller Kopp, Race Thompson, and Trayce Jackson-Davis got things going for Indiana.

This game was the textbook definition of “fight until the final buzzer sounds.” Indiana struggled mightily in the first half on both sides of the ball but did not let it effect the rest of their performance.

Xavier Johnson got things started early on the offensive end starting the game 3-of-4 from the field (2-of-2 from three) and scored eight of Indiana’s first ten points. Jackson-Davis, however, got off to another slow start. The newly-minted All-Big Ten 2nd Team honoree began the game 0-for-4 with a turnover.

Coach Mike Woodson hinted at what the halftime conversation with Jackson-Davis sounded like after the game by saying, “His play in the first half was not really good. I kind of keep locker room things inside but it was not pretty, I will tell you that.”

Michigan big man Hunter Dickinson led the way for UM through the first ten minutes as he accounted for seven of the teams first 15 points.

Michigan led 15-10 at the first timeout with 12:34 remaining in the half.

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After that timeout Indiana went on a scoring drought that lasted just over five minutes. The Wolverines took a 21-10 lead that consisted of a 17-3 from Michigan. Indiana had no answers early as TJD was still struggling, and Xavier Johnson had to be sidelined for a majority of the first half with two fouls.

Speaking of fouls, Michigan did not pick up their first of the game until there was only 6:43 remaining in the first half. Indiana finished the first half with 10 team fouls compared to Michigan’s three.

At the half, IU trailed UM 41-28. In the first half Michigan shot 44 percent while the Hoosiers shot just 38 percent. The biggest discrepancy came on the boards with Michigan outrebounding the Cream and Crimson 21-14 to create the 13-point lead at the break.

The second half is where things got interesting. Even then, they got worse before they got better.

The Hoosiers opened the second half on a 7-2 run to cut the Michigan lead to just eight points. That was until Wolverine freshman Caleb Houston hit back-to-back threes to stretch the lead back to double-digits. Houston then added another three to take the lead to 15-points.

Johnson, who has been prone to foul trouble all year, picked up his third foul of the game with just under 18 minutes left in the contest.

With 11:50 remaining in the game the foul discrepancy was still a question. Indiana sat at 16 fouls compared to Michigan’s six. There was no excuse, Indiana was flat out being outplayed, but they were not getting any help either.