No. 9 Hoosiers Run Past Houston Baptist, 103-61

Saturday, December 10

Bloomington, Ind.

4:00 PM

Indiana University

8-1

103

Houston Baptist

3-5

Houston Baptist

Indiana

103

No. 9 Hoosiers Run Past Houston Baptist, 103-61

12/10/2016 6:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The No. 9-ranked Indiana Hoosiers tied a season-high in points in a 103-61 victory over Houston Baptist on Saturday evening at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind.

With the victory, Indiana improves to 8-1 on the season with the team's 24^th-consecutive victory at home – the sixth-longest stretch in school history and the fifth-best active streak in the nation. Houston Baptist falls to 3-5 on the year with the loss.

James Blackmon Jr. scored a game-high 18 points to lead five Hoosiers in double-figures in the win. Robert Johnson had 16 points with five rebounds, while Juwan Morgan added 13 points with seven boards. Off the bench, Curtis Jones had 11 points, while Josh Newkirk netted 10 for IU.

Thomas Bryant has an impressive game, totaling nine points, a career-high 13 rebounds and two assists while tying his career-high in blocks with four.

For the game, Indiana shot 33-of-60 (55.0 percent) from the floor, including 12-of-28 (42.9 percent) from long range. The game marks the fifth time this season that Indiana has shot 50 percent or better from the floor. IU has also hit at least seven 3-ponters in each contest this year.

Defensively, IU held Houston Baptist to 25-of-66 (37.9 percent) shooting from the floor, including a paltry 2-of-17 (11.8 percent) from behind the arc. Indiana has forced opponents to shoot 40 percent or worse from the field in five-straight games – the longest stretch for the team since the 2012-13 season.

Trailing the Huskies 12-10 with 12:22 left in the first half, the Hoosiers reeled off an impressive, 24-4 run over the next 6:58 minutes to seize control of the game and take a 34-16 lead with 5:17 left. At the half, IU led Houston Baptist, 42-27.

In the second half, the Hoosiers offense exploded for a season-high 61 points – the most for IU since scoring 61 against Illinois on Jan. 19, 2016. The 61 points are tied second-most second-half points under head coach Tom Crean, trailing only the 62 points scored in the final 20 minutes against Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 14, 2014.

Thanks in part to a dominant second-half offensive performance, IU defeated Houston Baptist, 103-61. IU out-rebounded the Huskies, 45-31, and outscored HBU in bench points, 37-9.

Devonte Green and Freddie McSwain, Jr. each set career-bests with eight points apiece, while Tim Priller netted a career-high four points. Off the bench, Zach McRoberts added a career-high four assists for the Hoosiers.

Also of note, after hitting his first two shots on Saturday night, Morgan had connected on his last 14 field goals over the last three contests, setting an IU school record.

The No. 9 Indiana Hoosiers will be back in action on Saturday, Dec. 17 when the team faces No. 16/15 Butler in the Crossroads Classic in Indianapolis. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.