In the midst of an up-and-down Big Ten season, IU's Robert Johnson finished on a high note.
A very high note.
The junior guard finished with a game-high 26 points, his offense a major part of Indiana's 96-92 win over Ohio State on Saturday at Value City Arena in Columbus.
"My teammates did a good job of finding me, getting me involved early and I just wanted to come out aggressive an attack,” Johnson said. "I was just in the flow of things, offensively and defensively. I think I had the right mindset today, from start to finish, and that helped me make shots."
Johnson shot 10 of 17 from the field, with the scoring effort falling just one point shy of tying his career-high of 27. His 3-point shooting was most impressive, going 5 of 8 from distance after shooting 7 of 42 from the same range over his previous eight games.
The Richmond, Virginia, native did the majority of his damage in the first half.
The Hoosiers finished with a season-high 54 first-half points against, with Johnson accounting for 15 during that period.
Playing a game-high 36 minutes, he also added six rebounds, six assists, two steals and didn't commit a single turnover. Both he and IU redshirt junior guard Josh Newkirk played all 20 minutes in the second half.
Despite those previously mentioned struggles, IU junior guard James Blackmon Jr. said he and his teammates weren't worried about Johnson's shot.
"Today I feel like we were all in movement," Blackmon said. "He was in movement, and he was just in a flow and it made it easier for everyone."
In Indiana's last six games entering Saturday's contest, Johnson hit double digits in scoring just once, a trend that emerged despite Johnson averaging 12.8 points per game previously.
IU head coach Tom Crean credited Johnson's defense for allowing him to perform the way he did offensively.
"You could say that he was due, and you’d be right," Crean said. "It’s just an anomaly that he has not played as well with his shooting. It’s heartbreaking sometimes when he’s not making shots."
Johnson, Newkirk and Blackmon combined for 60 of Indiana's 96 points on Saturday.
"We're a get-well card for guys," Ohio State head coach Thad Matta said. "You're struggling? Play Ohio State and get out of your slump."
Johnson's return to form was a welcome sign for Indiana ahead of next week's Big Ten Tournament.
"He’s a humble guy. He’s a team guy," Crean said. "It was absolutely fun to watch him play today."
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