Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers too much for Michigan
1/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
January 19, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana men's basketball team showcased some tough defense as they forced 20 turnovers and held Michigan to 38 percent shooting, including 25 percent in the second half, en route to a 62-53 win over the Wolverines on Wednesday night in front of a sell out crowd in Assembly Hall. Indiana, winners of three in a row and six of its last seven, moved to 8-7, 3-1 in the Big Ten. Freshman D.J. White and junior Bracey Wright each recorded a game-high 16 points, while Wright secured nine rebounds and three assists to White's three boards and a block. Freshman Robert Vaden also enjoyed a solid all around effort finishing with 15 points, six rebounds, two assists and a block. Indiana came out on fire in the second half, forcing four early turnovers and outplaying Michigan to two offensive rebounds as the Hoosiers scored the first five points to take a 32-30 lead with 18:11 on the clock Indiana would continue to own the glass in the second half, coming up with two more offensive rebounds, as well as forcing three more Michigan turnovers. An emphatic dunk by White capped a quick 7-2 spurt as the Cream and Crimson took a six-point lead, 45-39, with 7:40 left in the game. IU added four more points to that run to open a 10-point lead, 49-39, with 6:13 left. IU maintained the 10-point advantage until the 4:36 mark when Michigan's Daniel Horton hit two free throws. That was followed by a Hoosier turnover that led to a three-pointer by Dion Harris slicing the lead in half, 53-48, with 4:12 left in the contest. Michigan would get even closer as Horton's jumper and free throw at 2:40 put the IU lead to just one basket, 54-51. Wright would quickly erased all fears of a Wolverine come back hitting a jumper at 2:17 that ignited a Hoosier 8-2 spurt that ended the game. Michigan was led by Brent Petway who scored 12 points and collected seven rebounds, while Harris and Horton each chipped in with 11 points apiece. Indiana returns to action this Saturday, Jan. 22, as the Hoosiers host Big Ten rival Ohio State. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. at Assembly Hall.
Indiana used team defense and offense from the start, forcing 11 Michigan turnovers, including three steals, and producing eight assists in the first 13 minutes of play to take an early lead.
Both teams traded baskets early, but White's lay up was followed by a three-pointer from fellow classmate A.J. Ratliff, giving IU a 10-9 lead with 15:09 left in the first half.
With the game tied at 13-13 at 11:43, the Cream and Crimson went on a 9-2 spurt over the next four minutes of play, opening a seven-point advantage, 22-15. During the spurt, Indiana came up with three's by freshman Vaden and sophomore Roderick Wilmont, and a lay up and a free throw by Wright.
After a media timeout at 7:43, Michigan would go on a 15-5 run to end the half. Indiana came out of the stoppage with some sloppy play turning the ball over twice, leading to four quick Wolverine points. Michigan would then tie the game at 22-22 as Ron Coleman hit a three with 4:09 left in the half. U-M would then take a two-point advantage, 24-22, with 2:17 left in the first stanza.
Indiana briefly disrupted the run and took the lead back, as Wilmont came up with his second three-pointer of the game at 1:54, giving IU a 25-24 lead. Michigan would then answer with five straight points to go ahead 30-25 lead, but Wilmont, who notched all eight of his season-high points in the first half, drove and hit a lay up as the buzzer sounded to cut the deficit to three, 30-27.
The Wolverine's would ease their way back in the contest cutting the Hoosier advantageto just one, 35-34, with 15:19 left in the game. The Hoosier defense then combined with some precise free throw shooting allowed IU to build its lead to four, 38-34 at 13:24, but a three by Dion Harris once again trimmed the IU lead to one, 38-37, with 11:30 left in the contest.
