Indiana Outlasts UCLA in Double OT Thriller, Secures Another Statement Win
LOS ANGELES - That one had everything: grit, guts, and just enough late-game magic. Indiana walked into Pauley Pavilion and walked out with a signature win - a 98-97 double-overtime victory that snapped UCLA’s 14-game home winning streak and added another Quad 1 gem to the Hoosiers’ résumé.
And they did it short-handed.
Playing their second straight game without their starting point guard, the Hoosiers didn’t just survive - they thrived in one of college basketball’s most iconic venues, where UCLA had won 86 percent of its games dating back to the 2019-20 season. This marks Indiana’s second consecutive Quad 1 win, and it’s the kind that moves the needle in February.
Analytics expert Evan Miyakawa summed it up well: Indiana jumped from 56th to 38th in Resume Quality in just four days. That’s the kind of leap that puts teams squarely in the NCAA Tournament conversation - not on the bubble, but in the field.
Dorn’s Hot Hand Ignites Hoosiers
Nick Dorn was electric. The junior guard poured in a career-high 26 points, knocking down six triples on 15 attempts. Over the last three games, Dorn has been on a heater - 67 points, 16 threes, and a shooting stroke that’s gone from streaky to straight-up reliable.
Let’s not forget: this is a guy who shot just 29.2% from deep last season at Elon. Fast forward to Big Ten play, and he’s hitting 44.3% from beyond the arc. That’s not just improvement - that’s adaptation at a higher level of competition.
Bailey Breaks Out
Reed Bailey picked the perfect time for his best game in an Indiana uniform. The forward was nearly flawless - 24 points on 6-of-7 shooting, 12-of-13 from the free throw line, plus six boards and five assists. And he did it all while drawing nine fouls and committing just one turnover.
His aggressive mindset was on full display, punctuated by a two-handed dunk that screamed, “I’m here.” Bailey’s rise adds another dimension to this Indiana team - a frontcourt scoring threat who can also facilitate and rebound.
Wilkerson Delivers in the Clutch
Lamar Wilkerson turned into Indiana’s go-to guy in the extra sessions. He scored 10 of his 24 points in overtime, including three go-ahead buckets in the second OT alone. Every time UCLA looked like it might take control, Wilkerson answered.
His shot-making in pressure moments gave Indiana the edge it needed - and showed that this team has more than one player capable of taking over when it matters most.
DeVries Does the Dirty Work
Tucker DeVries didn’t light up the scoreboard, but his fingerprints were all over this win. He grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds, dished out seven assists (tied with Conor Enright for the team lead), and committed just two turnovers. That’s three straight games with double-digit rebounds - all in Big Ten play, two of them on the road.
He’s finding his groove as a do-it-all wing who can rebound, distribute, and defend. For a team that thrives on balance, DeVries is becoming the glue.
Alexis and Sisley Step Up Late
Sam Alexis made his presence felt with a couple of timely blocks that helped slow UCLA’s momentum. His biggest moment? A layup with six seconds left in the first overtime that tied the game at 84 and forced a second extra period.
Then came the dagger - delivered by freshman Trent Sisley. With 1.5 seconds left in double OT, Indiana ran a familiar inbounds play. Sisley cut to the rim, took a bounce pass from DeVries, drew contact, and stepped to the line with 0.3 seconds left.
He calmly hit the first free throw. Ballgame.
It was a fitting moment for the home-state kid from Heritage Hills, who also made a similar play in Indiana’s win over No. 12 Purdue just days earlier.
A Historic Shooting Stretch
Indiana made 11 threes in the win - marking the fourth straight game with double-digit makes from deep. That hasn’t happened since the 2002-03 season. That’s 23 years, for those counting.
They also knocked down 31 free throws - their most in a single game since 2019 - and dished out 22 assists on 28 made field goals. That kind of ball movement and efficiency is what separates good teams from dangerous ones.
DeVries on the Win: “Unbelievable Fight”
Head coach Darian DeVries didn’t hold back in the locker room postgame.
“You know how hard that is?” he asked his players.
“Everything that could have gone wrong there at the end went wrong. You go to overtime.
You know how much resilience it takes just to stay in the fight?
“And then you had to do it a second time. And you stayed in it, stayed in it, and then we got a big freaking ‘W.’ … And you guys did that with unbelievable character tonight, unbelievable fight.”
What’s Next?
With three straight wins - two of them Quad 1 - and a roster that’s showing more depth and toughness by the week, Indiana is building momentum at the right time. They’ve proven they can win without their starting point guard, on the road, in double overtime, against a team that doesn’t lose at home.
This wasn’t just a win. It was a statement.