IU Falls To UNLV, Finishes Sixth in Maui

Wednesday, November 25

Maui, HI

5:00 PM

Indiana University

4-2

UNLV

5-1

Indiana

UNLV

11/25/2015 7:24:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

By: Sam Beishuizen, IUHoosiers.com

LAHAINA, Hawaii - Indiana's Maui Jim Maui Invitational ended with a frantic finish and a 72-69 loss to UNLV on Wednesday.

The loss capped a disappointing trip for the Hoosiers, who went 1-2 overall to finish sixth place in the eight-team tournament field.

No. 13 IU received the test head coach Tom Crean said he expected from the three games at the Lahaina Civic Center and found some of its weaknesses will need to be addressed quickly in order for the Hoosiers to compete at the national level they expect to be playing at.

"These are the types of things you learn from," Crean said. "They bank them. They put them together. And it all goes back to how much you want to continue to improve your individual aspects, take responsibility for what you have to get better at and work that much more diligently to make your teammates better."

The Hoosiers (4-2) will no doubt have their share of film to study when they return to the mainland. Wednesday's loss featured some of the same turnover trouble and defensive lapses that derailed the Hoosiers in their first two games in Maui.

But even with the team's struggles, Indiana still put itself in a position to win the game late before coming up short in a frantic ending.

Down three points with just 3.8 seconds left, senior guard Nick Zeisloft had a potential game-tying 3-point try blocked by UNLV's Ben Carter. Ike Nwamu missed both free-throws at the other end with 0.8 seconds left, but it didn't matter.

The Rebels hung on to win by three points.

"I knew they were looking for a 3," Carter said. "Luckily, I was able to get the tip on the ball and it was a pivotal play."

In a hypothetical world where Indiana could run the play once more, Crean said he wouldn't change a thing.

"That was excellent. They made an athletic play," Crean said. "But (Ziesloft) did a good job taking the shot."

Zeisloft's miss as the clock wound down was a sour end to an otherwise strong night. He led Indiana with 17 points, hitting 5-of-7 tries from beyond the arc.

Sophomore guard James Blackmon Jr. was the lone other Hoosiers in double-digit scoring, adding 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting. His made 3-pointer just under five minutes into the second half tied the game at 46 points apiece before the Hoosiers went scoreless for 4:43 to allow UNLV to regain its momentum and the lead.

Indiana cut UNLV's lead to three points twice in the final 30 seconds but was unable to get enough defensive stops to capitalize. The Rebels did just enough defensively themselves, holding off Indiana's late large.

"(Defense) definitely needs to improve in all aspects, whether it was zone or man, on ball defense, help-side defense," Zeisloft said, "it's a process and we definitely have to get better at it."

Self-inflicted damage was as troublesome as anything for the Hoosiers.

Indiana had 21 turnovers that led to 22 points for UNLV. The Hoosiers also shot just 10-of-19 from the free-throw line, which in a close game like Wednesday's contest, proved to be the difference in the game.

"We got ourselves in a hole at the beginning with our turnovers, and you're not going to beat any type of team, let alone one as talented as UNLV, when you're giving them 22 points," Crean said. "It's unacceptable with the guys that have the ball in their hands for us to be giving the ball that way, and we've got to get it fixed. We really do."

Crean's assessment was as blunt as it was honest. Indiana will have its first break since before the Maui Invitational began to digest film for the next few days before returning to Assembly Hall to play Alcorn State on Monday.

Crean said he isn't worried about his team's play in the tournament, though he wants to get it corrected as quickly as he can. He added that he's already "anxious" to get back into the gym and get back to work.

"I'll be looking forward to our next practice," Crean said.