Anthony Leal hustled when others might have watched, scored when others might have faltered.

The result -- Indiana's Big Ten tourney title hopes remain alive with a Thursday night 61-59 victory over Penn State to set up a Friday night quarterfinal matchup with third-seed Nebraska (22-9).

Leal's game-winning layup came off a Malik Reneau miss. The senior guard raced from the baseline corner past Big Ten defensive player of the year Ace Baldwin Jr. for the offensive rebound and score -- his second game winner of the season -- to end a game that featured 10 lead changes and nine ties.

"I thought our guys fought from the beginning to the end," head coach Mike Woodson said.

Sixth-seeded IU (19-13), winners of five straight, faces a Cornhusker team that, like Penn State, swept them during the regular season. The Hoosiers have won 12 games by eight points or less. In this five-game streak, four wins have come by four or fewer points.

"It's a culmination of the whole season and learning how to win together," Leal said. "The final eight minutes are winning time. We trust each other to make plays."

Leal finished with eight points, four rebounds, and multiple little plays that made a big difference.

"He's a senior," Woodson told the Big Ten Network's Andy Katz in a post-game interview. "I'm trying to ride these seniors. He gives us a defensive lift and knows everything we're doing from an offensive standpoint."

Center Kel'el Ware controlled the paint with 18 points, 14 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. He altered multiple shots.

Reneau added 12 points and eight rebounds. Forward Mackenzie Mgbako had 11 points.

The Hoosiers won with ferocious defense (Penn State shot just 28 percent from the field) and 14-for-18 free throw shooting, most in the second half with everything riding on it.

"We made the plays we needed to make coming down the stretch," Woodson said.

Penn State (16-17) had swept IU during the regular season by making a combined 21 three-pointers. That was a major point of defensive emphasis on Thursday night and it paid off -- the Nittany Lions were just 3-for-14 from behind the arc in the first half, and finished 7-for-27.

"Defensively, we executed the game plan," Woodson said.

IU was without senior guard Trey Galloway, who hurt his knee last Sunday against Michigan State. That left Xavier Johnson and Gabe Cupps as the starting guards. Leal was the only other guard that played.

Johnson, still rounding into form after an elbow injury, played under control and ran the show, finishing with four points, six rebounds, and five assists.

"X's presence on the court changes our team," Woodson said.

Ware's defensive prowess was a big reason why Penn State opened 1-for-11 from the field. IU capitalized for a 10-2 lead. The Nittany Lions rallied for a 10-10 tie. Cupps countered with a three-pointer. Leal added a three-pointer as the Hoosiers pushed ahead 20-12.

At one point, Penn State was 0-for-10 on layups and went five minutes without scoring. Still, IU only led 20-15 with 6:45 left in the half.

Then Johnson drove for a layup, Mgbako hit a jumper and the lead was nine points.

The Nittany Lions thrived at the line (10-for-11) to close within a point at 28-27 and offset 1-for-14 layup shooting.

Mgbako took and made the Hoosiers' first two free throws of the half, then hit a jumper for a 32-27 lead halftime lead. IU led for all but 21 seconds. Penn State never led.

That changed two-and-a-half minutes into the second half on a Nittany Lion three-point play for a 35-34 lead. Reneau countered with a basket. The Nittany Lions countered back with consecutive three-pointers to push ahead by six as part of a 15-4 second-half-opening run.

IU wasn't rattled. It ratcheted up the defensive intensity, threw in a 2-3 zone and got baskets from Ware and Johnson, and then a Cupps' three-pointer, for a 43-42 lead.

A Ware basket and four straight Reneau free throws pushed IU ahead 54-49. Penn State tied it at 55-55, 57-57, and 59-59.

With 24 seconds left in regulation, the Hoosiers had the ball and a victory chance.

Leal made it pay off.

"I was blessed I was able to do that," he said.