Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Fall To UK, 73-58
12/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
December 11, 2004
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Junior guard Bracey Wright scored a game and season-high 31 points, but that was not enough as the Hoosiers shot just 37% from the field en route to a 73-58 loss to the No. 10/11 Kentucky Wildcats at Freedom Hall on Saturday afternoon. Wright was 9-of-17 from the field, including tying a career-high with six three-pointers."It was a tough game for us," said head coach Mike Davis. "I am not upset that we lost because I felt that we competed really well and we kept playing and kept fighting. But we need to start hitting shots."
After each team traded baskets in the opening two minutes, Indiana went on a 9-0 run to open a 13-4 lead with 14:33 left in the first half. The nine points were courtesy of three field goals from behind the arc, led by two from freshman Robert Vaden and one by Wright.
IU (2-4) would then go in a shooting drought posting just one field goal in the next eight minutes of play, as Kentucky (6-1) answered with a 13-4 run to knot the score at 17-17 with 7:01 left in the first stanza.
Wright, who hit four free throws during the Wildcat run and, overall finished 7-of-8 from the line, nailed a jumper at 6:36 to give IU the lead back briefly at 19-17. However, Kentucky ended the first half on a 16-5 run putting IU in a nine-point deficit, 33-24.
Kentucky would add a basket to the run to start the second half opening an 11-point advantage, 35-24. The Hoosiers would not go away as a free throw by sophomore Pat Ewing Jr. and a three by Wright quickly cut the deficit to seven. After a Wildcat basket, Wight answered with his third three of the game pulling IU within six, 37-31 with 16:18 left in the game.
"Bracey did exactly what we need him to do for us and that is hit shots," said Davis. "He played great today."
Another Kentucky field goal was followed by Wright's fourth three of the game as the Hoosiers then trailed by just five, 39-34, with 13 minutes left in the contest. Indiana had two more chances to cut into the lead, but freshmen D.J. White and A.J. Ratliff could not convert open looks on the offensive end. Kentucky would regain an eight-point lead, but saw the Hoosiers quickly erase that as Ratliff hit his first collegiate three to once again pull IU within five, 42-37, with 11:43 left.
"We are still looking for a rotation so we played a lot of players tonight," said Davis. "I thought Ratliff played well today hitting some shots as a freshman in his first road game of the year. "
The Wildcats would then pull away going on a 16-2 run over the next six minutes to open their largest lead of the game, 58-39, with five minutes left on the clock. The Cream and Crimson would not recover from that spurt as the Hoosiers and Wildcats traded baskets down the stretch as time eventually expired.
"We had no answer for their inside game," said Davis. "We competed well, but we need to continue to develop D.J. and Pat so they can compete more effectively down low."
White finished the day with eight points and five rebounds, while Vaden and Ratliff each finished with six points apiece. Four players scored in double figures for Kentucky led by Patrick Sparks who had a team-high 16 points and six assists.
Indiana will have the next eight days off before the Hoosiers visit Missouri on Sunday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
G/F
/ Men's BasketballG/F
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballMonday, August 17
Thursday, August 13
Thursday, August 13
Wednesday, August 12