IU was on the verge of being blown out vs. Maryland. Then Xavier Johnson subbed in.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Xavier Johnson knows.

IU’s sixth-year point guard understands his strengths, his flaws, what his team can do and what he brings to the team. So when Johnson — who came off the bench for IU — subbed into the game 85 seconds into the second half with the Hoosiers down by 15, he knew what he needed to do.

Moments after checking in, Johnson fouled Maryland guard Jahmir Young to concede a three-point play. The bucket gave the Terrapins a 51-35 edge that seemed insurmountable against their stout defense. Then Johnson put his mark on the game.

Johnson catapulted an Indiana run with his well-rounded play. In the next six minutes of the game, Johnson hit a field goal and assisted on another four Indiana baskets. By the end of Johnson’s impactful stretch, the Hoosiers trailed by only three points.

Indiana (16-13, 8-10 Big Ten) ended up seizing full control of the game, beating Maryland 83-78 on the Terrapins’ senior day. Johnson — who will celebrate his senior day next Sunday in Assembly Hall — had 13 points, three rebounds and six assists.

Johnson changed the tempo of the game. After seemingly every Maryland (15-15, 7-12) miss or turnover, Johnson got the ball from the Indiana player with the ball and raced up the floor. Whether Johnson looked for his own shot, found a flanking player in the lane, or kicked it outside for a 3-point look, Maryland could not keep up with him zooming into Indiana’s frontcourt.

“When I’m on the floor, I like to run,” Johnson said. “We’ve got two bigs and guards that can shoot. We just push the pace and I think that’s how we play best.”

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Johnson knows why he’s on the court. He may be an inconsistent, low-volume perimeter shooter. He’s not a traditional point guard who makes the safe play. But Johnson is a tempo-pusher and a needle-threader, and he provided that for IU when the team desperately needed it.

“I can’t even explain it,” IU forward Mackenzie Mgbako said after taking a deep breath. “He’s so great at what he does — being able to move the ball in transition, and get downhill at an amazing pace, and find players for the open shot.”

The Hoosiers scored 20 fastbreak points, 14 coming in the second half. Maryland’s defense is excellent, but that’s because the Terrapins play at a grueling pace that obliterates the rhythm of other offenses. Once Johnson turned the game into a track meet, Maryland was frazzled and had no answer.

Sunday was Johnson’s second game back in the lineup after a left elbow injury had him sidelined for six games. With Johnson back, IU has snapped its four-game losing streak and won two straight.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a coincidence,” Johnson said of Indiana winning games upon his return. “We have very good players, but they’re just young. Me, I add experience. I know I do a couple things that’s head-rocking, but I’m a player. I’m (going to) make mistakes and I’m (going to) try to get it right back.”

Johnson knows he makes “head-rocking” plays, like when he lost track of time and essentially dribbled the first-half clock out on Sunday. But he also knows this team — which is starting freshman Gabe Cupps in the backcourt while Johnson recovers to full health — needs his veteran confidence on the court.

Together, Johnson and senior guard Trey Galloway give this team a much better chance to compete than when Cupps plays heavy minutes and there isn’t much ball-handling depth behind Galloway and Cupps.

Cupps isn’t yet capable of making plays like Johnson and Galloway. Cupps can bring the ball up the court and initiate sets for the Hoosiers, but he’s typically regulated to standing in a corner after doing so.

In the second half on Sunday, Johnson and Galloway played off each other. Johnson usually pushed in transition, but when IU had halfcourt possessions, Galloway would be the focus of a handoff action or pick-and-roll.

“It was as well as they’ve played together since I’ve had them together,” IU coach Mike Woodson said of his senior captains. “… We just haven’t been able to get to that point, it’s just what it is. To see them play together tonight, lead like they did being seniors, was kind of nice.”

Ten of Galloway’s 12 points came in the second half. He scored six of those points in the final 10 minutes of the game to extend Indiana’s lead.

“He takes pressure off me and I take pressure off him,” Johnson said. “When he’s not rolling and I’m rolling, then I got the ball. If I’m not rolling and he’s rolling, he got the ball. It’s a tandem.”

Johnson and Galloway led the charge on both ends of the floor. The two took turns guarding Young in the second half. Young went scoreless for over 10 minutes as the Hoosiers made their way back into the game.

Woodson made Johnson and Galloway the two captains of this team for a reason. They’ve both endured dreadful, mediocre and solid seasons in their 10 combined years of college hoops. Even as IU got down big, the vets stayed level-headed.

“Just controlling the game along with him and (Galloway) out front — our two seniors,” Woodson said of Johnson’s presence. “I missed that this season, I really have.”

Woodson has longed for consistent stretches with Johnson in the lineup for months. Between his elbow injury and a foot injury, Johnson has missed 13 games (equivalent to nearly two months) this year.

There are countless reasons for Indiana’s underwhelming season. Johnson’s injuries are only part of why the Hoosiers are ninth in a weak Big Ten. But what can’t be denied is the Hoosiers are 10-6 (5-5 Big Ten) with Johnson and 6-7 (3-5) without him.

Johnson — who grew up in Woodbridge, Va. about an hour drive away from College Park — played his best game of his injury-riddled season Sunday. Johnson’s play combined with one of IU’s best shooting games of the year (44% on 3s and 82% on free throws), allowed the Hoosiers to spoil Maryland’s senior day.

“That’s something that Indiana really wants to make — make 3s and make free throws,” Johnson said with a grin.

Johnson knows. He knows IU’s fanbase is annoyed with the team’s dreadful shooting. But he also knows the Hoosiers need him and they’re better with him on the floor.

What IU does in its final two regular-season games and the Big Ten tournament could answer how much better IU’s season would’ve gone with Johnson at full strength. Who knows?

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Xavier Johnson leads Indiana to 16-point comeback win vs. Maryland