Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Fall To UNC, 70-63
12/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
December 1, 2004
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Playing in its first-ever Big Ten/ACC Challenge game at Assembly Hall, the Indiana Hoosiers put up a fight, but fell on the short end, 70-63, to No. 11 North Carolina. Despite the 70 points, the Hoosiers turned in another solid defensive effort, holding the Tar Heels 20 points under their 90 point per game average and forcing 23 turnovers. Indiana falls to 2-1 on the year, while UNC improves to 5-1.
The Hoosiers had four players in double figures led by junior guard Bracey Wright, who had 18. Freshman forward Robert Vaden had an impressive stat line with 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists, coupled with zero turnovers. Junior guard Marshall Strickland had 11 and five assists, while freshman forward D.J. White finished with 10 points, six rebounds and five blocks.
Vaden carried his scoring barrage over from the Western Illinois' game, as he scored Indiana's first seven points. The Indianapolis native knocked down a three-pointer on the Hoosiers' opening possession. He then added a jumper and two of three free throws to stake the Hoosiers to an early 7-6 lead.
After a Raymond Felton layup at the 14:24 mark of the first half gave the Tar Heels a 12-10 advantage, both defenses stepped up the pressure. Over the next four minutes, neither team would score until Carolina got a layup from Jawad Williams and a three-pointer from Rashad McCants. McCants' trey at the 9:56 mark gave UNC a 17-10 lead and capped off a 9-0 run.
Felton and McCants gave the Hoosiers fits all night, leading the Tar Heels in scoring. McCants had 19, including five three-pointers, while Felton finished with 18 points. Jawad Williams was the only other Carolina player in double-digits with 13. Marvin Williams led the Tar Heels in rebounds with 12.
UNC would build its lead to eight on a pair of occasions in the first half, the last coming on a Marvin Williams' layup with 7:02 remaining. The Hoosiers closed the gap to one with a seven-point run of their own. It appeared as though Carolina would gain a 10-point cushion, but sophomore guard Roderick Wilmont came from the center of the lane to block Raymond Felton's layup attempt.
Wright followed up Wilmont's block with a trey to cut the UNC advantage to five. Strickland went coast-to-coast after a defensive rebound for a layup to knock the advantage down to one possession. Ewing capped the run with a layup after three offensive rebounds to cut it to one at the 5:16 mark, 22-21.
With the advantage still at one, 27-26, following a Wright jumper in the lane, the Tar Heels closed the half on a mini five-point run. Felton added a jumper and then a three-pointer with 38 seconds remaining to give Carolina a 32-26 lead at the break.
After a pair of Jawad Williams free throws gave Carolina an eight-point advantage just 23 seconds into the second period, the Hoosiers scored seven straight points to cut the lead to one. Ewing hit Wright on a backdoor cut for a dunk to start the streak. Freshman D.J. White hit a jumper in the paint to cut it to four before Strickland hit a trey at the 18:22 mark to cut it to one.
Carolina took over during the next six minutes with a 12-2 run to break the game open. McCants scored seven points on the run, including a three with just under 12 minutes remaining to give UNC its largest lead of the game at 46-35.
When it appeared as though the Hoosiers could fold, the Cream and Crimson once again battled back. After a Sean May dunk gave UNC a 10-point advantage at 48-38, the Hoosiers cut the deficit back down. Wright and Strickland both hit threes along the way and White added a pair of layups, as the Hoosiers cut it to four at 50-46 with 5:22 showing.
Like they had so many times on the night, the Tar Heels responded with a run of their own to build the lead back to double-digits. May got a conventional three-point play, and then McCants provided the eventual dagger. With Wright draped all over him, McCants found some way to get room and hit a three from the top of the key for a 56-46 Carolina advantage with 2:38 remaining.
The Hoosiers continued their never say die attitude to the final horn. IU traded free throws and baskets with the Tar Heels until the end. Indiana would get no closer than five over the final two minutes, as UNC hit 10 of 12 free throws over the final 1:30.
Indiana finished the game with a season-high 11 three-pointers, including eight in the second half. The Hoosiers also had 19 offensive rebounds. Pat Ewing had eight rebounds for the Hoosiers in only 16 minutes of action. Seven of his eight boards were offensive, as he was saddled with foul trouble for most of the second half.
IU will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 4, when they battle No. 7 Connecticut in Hartford. The game is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. EST and can be seen on CBS. The game is a run of four straight against teams ranked in the top 25 for the Hoosiers. The game can also be heard on the IU Radio Network with Don Fischer (p-b-p), Todd Leary (analysis) and Joe Smith (pre game, halftime post game) on the call.
