Double OT Thriller: Indiana Outlasts UCLA 98-97 in Instant Classic at Pauley Pavilion
If you stayed up late for this one, you were rewarded with a game that had everything-momentum swings, clutch shots, defensive grit, and a finish that’ll be talked about in Bloomington for a long time. Indiana survived a double-overtime battle with UCLA at Pauley Pavilion, escaping with a 98-97 win in a game that tested the Hoosiers’ depth, composure, and resilience.
How It Unfolded
Let’s start with the first half, where offense came at a premium for Indiana. UCLA’s defense came out aggressive, pushing Indiana well beyond the arc and forcing the Hoosiers into uncomfortable, rushed looks.
Outside of a 12-0 run midway through the half that gave IU a brief 22-16 lead, it was mostly UCLA dictating the tempo. The Hoosiers shot just 10-of-27 from the field and 5-of-15 from deep in the opening 20 minutes, while coughing up six turnovers.
Reed Bailey provided a much-needed spark off the bench with 10 first-half points, and Lamar Wilkerson chipped in nine, but the rest of the offense was stuck in neutral. Still, Indiana’s defense kept them within striking distance, limiting UCLA to 43.3% shooting and just five second-chance points. At the break, IU trailed 36-30.
Then came the second-half surge-and it was Nick Dorn who lit the fuse.
Dorn Takes Over
Dorn came out of the locker room scorching. He scored eight of Indiana’s first 10 points of the half and had 15 second-half points by the under-12 timeout.
His shooting flipped the script, and suddenly the Hoosiers were leading 49-47. A driving dunk by Bailey extended the lead to four, and by the 3:57 mark, IU had built a 10-point cushion at 66-56 after a Wilkerson three.
But UCLA wasn’t going quietly.
Tyler Bilodeau knocked down a three to cut into the lead, and from there, the Bruins began chipping away. Dorn nailed his sixth triple of the night to push the lead back to 10 at 71-61 with under two minutes to go, but that’s when things got chaotic.
Missed free throws, turnovers, and UCLA’s relentless pressure brought the Bruins all the way back. A three-point play by Donovan Dent, a series of IU miscues, and a clutch three from Trent Perry with just 1.1 seconds left tied it at 76 and sent the game to overtime.
Trading Blows in OT
The first overtime was a back-and-forth slugfest. UCLA grabbed an 81-78 lead, but Indiana responded with six of the final nine points, including a key stretch from Wilkerson, to tie it at 84. Perry had a look at the buzzer to win it, but his baseline jumper was off the mark.
In the second overtime, it was more of the same-momentum swinging like a pendulum. With the game tied at 97 and just 1.5 seconds left, Indiana ran a baseline inbounds play that found freshman forward Trent Sisley.
He was fouled and stepped to the line with everything on the line. Sisley hit the first, missed the second, and that was enough.
Indiana 98, UCLA 97.
Standout Performers
Nick Dorn was the engine that powered Indiana’s comeback. The junior wing dropped 26 points, hitting six threes in 48 minutes of action, and added seven rebounds for good measure.
Reed Bailey was electric before fouling out, scoring 24 points with six boards and five assists in just 28 minutes. His aggressive drives and timely passing were crucial in both regulation and the first overtime.
Lamar Wilkerson came alive late, especially in the extra periods. He finished with 24 points and eight rebounds in 43 gritty minutes, and his poise in key moments helped steady IU when things got wild.
By the Numbers
- 3-point shooting: Indiana finished 11-for-34 from deep-not lights out, but timely makes from Dorn and Wilkerson made the difference.
- Free throws: The Hoosiers went 31-for-38 at the line, a critical advantage in a one-point game.
- Efficiency: IU posted 1.11 points per possession, a solid number considering the slow start.
- Bench production: Indiana got 27 points from its reserves, with Bailey leading the way.
- Points off turnovers: IU won that battle 17-9, a quietly important stat in such a tight contest.
What’s Next
Indiana wraps up its West Coast swing on Tuesday night with a trip to the Galen Center to take on USC. Tipoff is set for 10 p.m.
ET on Peacock and NBC Sports Network. After a win like this, the Hoosiers will be riding high-but they’ll need to reset quickly.
The Trojans bring a different kind of challenge, and there’s no time to exhale in February basketball.
This one was a statement. Not just because Indiana beat UCLA on the road, but because of how they did it-grinding through adversity, leaning on different players at different moments, and coming through in the clutch. That’s the kind of win that builds belief in a locker room.