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Indiana Freshman Jalen-Hood-Schifino Explains Improbable Layup Against Rutgers

Indiana point guard Jalen Hood-Schifino made a jaw-dropping layup on Tuesday night against Rutgers, wrapping the ball around his back and making the layup through a Paul Mulcahy foul. Hood-Schifino explained the play after the game.
Jack Ankony|
Indiana Freshman Jalen-Hood-Schifino Explains Improbable Layup Against Rutgers
Indiana Freshman Jalen-Hood-Schifino Explains Improbable Layup Against Rutgers

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Indiana Hoosiers

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Race Thompson and Trayce Jackson-Davis' reactions explained it best.

Freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino led the Indiana fast break down the left side and wrapped the ball around his back as he entered the lane. Absorbing a foul from Rutgers' guard Paul Mulcahy, Hood-Schifino flipped the ball over his shoulder and through the net.

As momentum sent Hood-Schifino sliding past the baseline, Assembly Hall erupted with equal parts shock and excitement. Big Ten Network play-by-play announcer Dave Revsine called it one of the best shots he's ever seen in person. 

Hood-Schifino explained to Andy Katz after the game that he was surprised it went in, but it wasn't the first time he pulled off this move.

"So when I got the ball," Hood-Schifino said. "I just remember at the beginning of the year – I don't remember who we were playing – but I did the same play, I wrapped it around my back. So I was like, 'I'm going to do the same thing,' and when I went up I seen him just like go up with me so I went up and honestly I didn't think it was going to go in. I thought it was just going to be a foul, but it went in and I was like like, 'Oh man,' so it was a great play. It was a nice highlight. And we got the win, so on top of that everything is just going good right now."

Hood-Schifino made a similar play in an exhibition game against Saint Francis on Nov. 3.

Hood-Schifino missed Indiana's first game against Rutgers, a 63-48 loss, due to a back injury, but he finished Tuesday's game with seven points, three assists, three rebounds and one steal. 

"The first time I didn't get to play," Hood-Schifino said. "But it was good for me because I got to watch from the sideline and, it's a different environment playing there and then here. So I knew going into the game it was going to be a big one, and I feel like today we just played hard, played with energy. Trayce did what he did, and Miller Kopp stepped up, as well. It was good."

Indiana secured a 66-60 win to move to 17-7 overall and 8-5 in Big Ten play, and the Hoosiers have now won seven of their last eight games. 

"Coach Woodson is big on like once you beat a big team, you've got to validate that," Hood-Schifino said. "And I feel like we did that tonight and it was against Rutgers, so it felt really good."

Related stories on Indiana basketball

  • IU LEARNING TO FINISH GAMES: Indiana let a handful of games slip away in the final minutes last season, but the Hoosiers are learning to finish games strong in year two under coach Mike Woodson. CLICK HERE
  • GAME STORY: Indiana showed maturity to withstand Rutgers physical and relentless play to secure a 66-60 win on Tuesday night at Assembly Hall. It was Indiana's first win over Rutgers since 2019, and Trayce Jackson-Davis became the first player in program history to score 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. CLICK HERE
  • KOPP'S BIG NIGHT: Indiana basketball's Miller Kopp has balled out versus Rutgers in both meetings this season as the Hoosiers finished the Scarlet Knights off 66-60 on Tuesday. Kopp said late night hoops as a kid with his brothers and roughhousing with boxing gloves from his dad made him into the competitor he is today. CLICK HERE
  • WHAT JACKSON-DAVIS, KOPP SAID: Indiana defeated Rutgers 66-60 on Tuesday night behind 20 points and 18 rebounds from Trayce Jackson-Davis and a 4-for-6 3-point shooting night from Miller Kopp. Here's what the two Hoosiers said after the win with video attached. CLICK HERE
  • WHAT WOODSON SAID: Indiana coach Mike Woodson and the Hoosiers have won seven of their last eight game to move into a tie for second place in the Big Ten standings. Here's what Woodson said after Indiana's 66-60 win over Rutgers, including video of the postgame press conference. CLICK HERE
  • PHOTO GALLERY: The Rutgers Scarlet Knights traveled to Bloomington for the second conference matchup with the Indiana Hoosiers on Tuesday. It was a nail-biter, but Indiana's defense held Rutgers at bay, winning 66-60. CLICK HERE
  • TJD DUNKS ON THE SCARLET KNIGHTS: Watch this replay of Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis dunking on Rutgers with authority to give the Hoosiers a 12-point lead in the first half. CLICK HERE
  • JALEN HOOD-SCHIFINO'S INSANE REVERSE LAYUP :Watch this replay of Indiana basketball freshman guard Jalen Hood-Schifino's crafty reverse layup off Trey Galloway's pass that he scooped up off an official's foot in the first half versus Rutgers. CLICK HERE
  • MILLER KOPP DRAINS THREE ON RUTGERS: Watch this replay of Indiana forward Miller Kopp connecting on his first three-pointer of the game to put the Hoosiers up 6-4 versus No. 24 Rutgers. CLICK HERE
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Jack Ankony
JACK ANKONY

Jack Ankony has been covering IU basketball and football with “Indiana Hoosiers on SI” since 2022. He graduated from Indiana University's Media School with a degree in journalism.

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