Wilkerson Scores IU's Final 10 Points in Overtime Victory

Saturday, February 7

Bloomington, Ind.

Noon

Indiana University

16-8,7-6Big Ten

Wisconsin

16-7,8-4Big Ten

OT 1

Wisconsin

Indiana

Wilkerson Scores IU's Final 10 Points in Overtime Victory

2/7/2026 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The moment wasn't too big. It never is. Not for Lamar Wilkerson. Not at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall Saturday afternoon with a victory over Wisconsin on the line.

The veteran guard did what he always does – score to break an opponent's back. Wilkerson was 6-for-6 from the line under fierce crunch-time pressure, two to force overtime, four to win it as Indiana survived 78-77.

"He doesn't really miss in practice or like ever," forward Sam Alexis said with a smile. "I don't think he feels any pressure when he's shooting them."

Added guard Conor Enright: "If I had to pick a guy, I would put Lamar out there every single time to shoot every free throw in the game."

Wilkerson finished with 25 points at the Hoosiers (16-8 overall, 7-6 in the Big Ten) won for the fourth time in five games. He had all six of IU's overtime points, plus two rebounds.

The Hoosiers have beaten Wisconsin (16-7, 8-4) three straight times at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.

"He's an elite player," coach Darian DeVries said of Wilkerson. "Even from a pro standpoint, he's one of those guys that people aren't talking about enough because he's going to play in that league for a long, long time. He has all the things you need, the intangibles, in addition to that one skill that everybody wants, he can throw them in there.

"He's a winner. I love everything about him. He continues to showcase what makes him so special."

Enright attacked. Was there any doubt? The opportunity was too great, the Wisconsin defensive vulnerability too glaring. Oh, he also drew a crucial overtime charge to give IU a final chance.

With point guard Tayton Conerway sidelined with illness, Enright bore the biggest run-the-offense burden. He penetrated at will in the first half for seven points and four assists before foul trouble sidelined him basically until the second half. He finished with 11 points, six assists and four rebounds.

"We thought we could get downhill," Enright said. "We did a good job in that. The coaches gave us a good plan."

IU went 13-for-15 from the free throw line.

"We've tried to be more aggressive driving the ball, finding creases to get there, get to the rim, get fouled or kick it out for threes," Darian DeVries said.

That was especially true as IU struggled from beyond the arc. It finished 5-for-22.

"We've really been trying to do that a lot more," Darian DeVries said. "Even though we don't maybe have a lot of wiggle with some of our ball handlers, the guys have been doing a much better job of finding creases to get in there, finish at the rim, get fouled, and then get some kick-out threes.

"A lot of nights we're up in that 30 (3-point attempt) range in attempts and today we were at 22. If we're making them, we fire a few more up there, but we just weren't hitting them as we normally do. Our guys did a good job of adjusting and adapting."

Tucker DeVries let 'er rip, shooting slump be darned. Did you expect anything less? The stakes were too high, the potential too great, for anything less. He played all 45 minutes and totaled 16 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks.

"Tucker is our connector out there -- 45 minutes and eight rebounds and knocked some shots down," Darian DeVries said.

Alexis found second-half beast mode -- willing himself to play through overtime cramping -- for 19 points, seven rebounds and five blocks. He has 13, four and three after halftime.

"Sam was tremendous that second half," Darian DeVries said. "We were able to take advantage of a few switches. We were able to throw it inside.

"Our guys ran a few things to try to get it to him, got it to him, and Sam did the rest. He had a big night."

As far has his strong performance down the stretch, Alexis added, "It just happened in the flow of the game."

Enright had a different take.

"He was cooking."

In basically a repeat of the UCLA overtime victory, the Hoosiers lost a 14-point lead, but not their resolve, not their ability to do what needed to be done.

"They found a way," Darian DeVries said. "They didn't give into it. They kept fighting. They kept encouraging one another. That's a sign of a veteran team. They didn't panic. They knew you just go to make that next play, and they did that."

Added Enright: "It was very calm and collected, no screaming at each other, pointing fingers, kind of just next play mentality. We've gotten a lot better at that as the season went on.

"We don't want to blow leads and go to overtime and do all that, but we still battled together and got it done."

Or, as Alexis put it, "We have a bunch of seniors, it's our last year and we want to make it a big year. Just play hard and make it fun."

Alexis set a game-opening tone with an offensive rebound set up a Wilkerson 3-pointer for the game's opening points. Wilkerson beat the shot clock for a jumper. Alexis drove for a dunk and a 7-0 IU lead in less than four minutes.

Enright beat the shot clock for a 3-pointer and a 10-6 Hoosier lead seven minutes into the game, then drew a Badger offensive foul. A guard Jasai Miles dunk, a Wilkerson layup, and an Enright basket made it 16-8 with 11 minutes left in the half.

Consecutive Tucker DeVries 3-pointers followed by a spinning Enright layup made it 26-12 with 8:26 left in the half. Wisconsin cut the lead to four points with 2:30 left.

Baskets by Alexis and forward Trent Sisley doubled the lead before IU reached halftime with a 36-30 advantage. Wilkerson led with 11 points.

The Hoosiers scored the first four points of the second half. A Tucker DeVries 3-pointer made it 52-39 seven minutes in. Consecutive Wisconsin 3-pointers cut the lead to five.

Nine straight Alexis points kept IU ahead. Wisconsin's offensive rebounding kept it within range. It took its first lead, at 69-68, with 1:45 left. Seven-foot-center Nolan Winter's 3-pointer made it 72-68 as the clock ticked under a minute.

Wilkerson made two free throws, grabbed a rebound and made two more free throws for a 72-72 tie with 16 seconds left to force overtime.

Badger free throws produced a three-point lead. Wilkerson scored to cut the lead to one. Enright forced a turnover on guard Nick Boyd with 15 seconds left. Wilkerson drew Blackwell's fifth foul with 2.8 seconds left, and made both free throws.

Wisconsin was beaten.

IU hosts Oregon (8-15) Monday night to follow the Hoosiers' celebration of the 50th anniversary of their 1976 32-0 national championship.