Saturday, January 18
Lincoln, Neb.
7:00 PM
Indiana University
14-4,4-3Big Ten
82
at
74
Nebraska
7-11,2-5Big Ten
1
2
F
Indiana
46
36
82
Nebraska
41
33
74
Hoosiers Sweep Series With Win Over Nebraska On Saturday Night
1/18/2020 9:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Trayce Jackson-Davis took the pressure, and any perceived self-doubt, and buried them as easily as he did the free throws that clinched so much Saturday night.
Welcome to Indiana's 82-74 victory at Nebraska that might have set up a big run.
"I'm excited our guys were able to get one away from home," coach Archie Miller told Voice of the Hoosiers Archie Miller on his post-game radio show. "You have to find a way."
The Hoosiers (14-4 overall, 4-3 in the Big Ten) did by blasting past their 0-3 road record, and the overall 6-40 mark by conference visiting teams with balanced offense, stifling defense and rebounding dominance.
"We cracked the seal (in getting that first road win)," Miller told Fischer. "You've got to find a way to get that first one, so it's a little easier to get the second."
Two key questions loomed entering the game -- could IU make perimeter shots; would the 6-9 Jackson-Davis break out of his two-game slump?
The answers -- yes and yes.
The Hoosiers finished eight three-point baskets. Jackson-Davis needed 11 minutes to take his first shot -- a dunk -- then went on to record his sixth double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds, plus added four assists against no turnovers. His two crunch-time free throws ensured there would be no Nebraska come-back victory.
Jackson-Davis feasts on the under-sized Cornhuskers (7-11, 2-5). He had 25 points and 15 in their first meeting in December, an overtime Hoosier victory.
"Clearly Trayce was fantastic," Miller told Fischer. "He probably had his best game of the season in terms of both ends of the floor and what we asked him to do.
"Being able to get 18 and 13 on the road, make his free throws, especially at the end, he really rose to the occasion."
Size ruled for the Hoosiers. They were bigger at nearly every position and the three-point happy Cornhuskers couldn't shoot their way out of this one – although they did have a late second-half surge that cut 13 points off a 19-point second-half deficit.
IU found its move-the-ball offense, totaling 21 assists, its most in a Big Ten game this season. Nine of the 10 Hoosiers who played scored.
Forward Joey Brunk had 16 points and five rebounds. Forward Justin Smith had 15 points and seven rebounds.
Indiana had a 47-30 rebound edge and shot 50.8 percent from the field, impressive given Nebraska jammed up the inside, as every IU opponent does.
"In this type of game, we know the floor would be packed," Miller told Fischer. "You can say go inside on them, we have the size advantage, but when they're not guarding certain guys and helping on the floor, it's tough. You have to step up and make some plays."
The Hoosiers got major bench help from guard Armaan Franklin (eight points, five rebounds, four assists), swingman Jerome Hunter (six points, two three-pointers) and center De'Ron Davis (four points, 2-for-2 shooting, three rebounds).
"I thought Jerome in the first half was really big to make a couple of threes," Miller told Fischer. "Armaan as well. When we made a couple (of threes), that opened the inside up."
A 22-6 first-half run turned Indiana's eight-point deficit into an eight-point lead. Its 16-2 second-half-opening burst clinched it -- with some late-game drama thrown in.
"Sometimes it's difficult to get it (inside)," Miller told Fischer. "Then you have to step up and make a few shots. We had some good looks. We made some free throws. I wish we had made a little more."
IU was 12-for-20 from the line.
The Hoosiers held Nebraska to 9-for-30 three-point shooting.
"All in all, defensively we hung tough," Miller told Fischer. "We were able to guard the three-point line, which is huge when you play Nebraska. Those guards are tough off the dribble."
Nebraska guard Cam Mack had 20 points, but only three in the second half.
Indiana wanted a fast start, and got a solid one. Guard Rob Phinisee hit an early three-pointer (a sign of Hoosier sharpshooting to come), and would have had two, but the second came just after the shot-clock expired.
A Smith rebound basket off a Jackson-Davis missed free throw put the Hoosiers ahead 14-12. Nebraska responded with 11 straight points in 81 seconds for a 23-14 lead, forcing Miller to call a timeout.
Indiana responded with an Al Durham three-pointer.
Nebraska went ahead 28-20. IU responded by ramping up the tempo. Jackson-Davis dunked. Franklin scored five straight points. That capped a 12-2 run to give the Hoosiers a 32-30 lead.
Guard Devonte Green hit a three-pointer to help IU push ahead 42-34. The Hoosiers ended the half ahead 46-41. Jackson-Davis flirted with a double-double with eight points and eight rebounds.
"The big thing was to play with confidence, especially after we took a shot early," Miller told Fischer. "I thought some guys did a great job. Our bench in the first half was a big key.
"We made some big shots -- Jerome and Armaan and De'Ron. Everybody who came off the bench gave us confidence."
That continued to start the second half. Brunk scored four quick points to help spark Indiana to that 16-2 run and a 19-point lead.
Nebraska had a run of its own, closing to eight points with eight minutes remaining, and to six with 36 seconds left.
The Hoosiers held on.
"In the second half, the first eight minutes was as well as we've played on offense," Miller told Fischer. "Things changed as game went on. It got a little difficult."
Now the nation's second-toughest schedule awaits, starting next week's pair of home games against No. 15 Michigan and No. 17 Maryland.
"We're looking forward to having another opportunity at home," Miller told Fischer.
IUHoosiers.com
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Trayce Jackson-Davis took the pressure, and any perceived self-doubt, and buried them as easily as he did the free throws that clinched so much Saturday night.
Welcome to Indiana's 82-74 victory at Nebraska that might have set up a big run.
"I'm excited our guys were able to get one away from home," coach Archie Miller told Voice of the Hoosiers Archie Miller on his post-game radio show. "You have to find a way."
The Hoosiers (14-4 overall, 4-3 in the Big Ten) did by blasting past their 0-3 road record, and the overall 6-40 mark by conference visiting teams with balanced offense, stifling defense and rebounding dominance.
"We cracked the seal (in getting that first road win)," Miller told Fischer. "You've got to find a way to get that first one, so it's a little easier to get the second."
Two key questions loomed entering the game -- could IU make perimeter shots; would the 6-9 Jackson-Davis break out of his two-game slump?
The answers -- yes and yes.
The Hoosiers finished eight three-point baskets. Jackson-Davis needed 11 minutes to take his first shot -- a dunk -- then went on to record his sixth double-double of the season with 18 points and 13 rebounds, plus added four assists against no turnovers. His two crunch-time free throws ensured there would be no Nebraska come-back victory.
Jackson-Davis feasts on the under-sized Cornhuskers (7-11, 2-5). He had 25 points and 15 in their first meeting in December, an overtime Hoosier victory.
"Clearly Trayce was fantastic," Miller told Fischer. "He probably had his best game of the season in terms of both ends of the floor and what we asked him to do.
"Being able to get 18 and 13 on the road, make his free throws, especially at the end, he really rose to the occasion."
Size ruled for the Hoosiers. They were bigger at nearly every position and the three-point happy Cornhuskers couldn't shoot their way out of this one – although they did have a late second-half surge that cut 13 points off a 19-point second-half deficit.
IU found its move-the-ball offense, totaling 21 assists, its most in a Big Ten game this season. Nine of the 10 Hoosiers who played scored.
Forward Joey Brunk had 16 points and five rebounds. Forward Justin Smith had 15 points and seven rebounds.
Indiana had a 47-30 rebound edge and shot 50.8 percent from the field, impressive given Nebraska jammed up the inside, as every IU opponent does.
"In this type of game, we know the floor would be packed," Miller told Fischer. "You can say go inside on them, we have the size advantage, but when they're not guarding certain guys and helping on the floor, it's tough. You have to step up and make some plays."
The Hoosiers got major bench help from guard Armaan Franklin (eight points, five rebounds, four assists), swingman Jerome Hunter (six points, two three-pointers) and center De'Ron Davis (four points, 2-for-2 shooting, three rebounds).
"I thought Jerome in the first half was really big to make a couple of threes," Miller told Fischer. "Armaan as well. When we made a couple (of threes), that opened the inside up."
A 22-6 first-half run turned Indiana's eight-point deficit into an eight-point lead. Its 16-2 second-half-opening burst clinched it -- with some late-game drama thrown in.
"Sometimes it's difficult to get it (inside)," Miller told Fischer. "Then you have to step up and make a few shots. We had some good looks. We made some free throws. I wish we had made a little more."
IU was 12-for-20 from the line.
The Hoosiers held Nebraska to 9-for-30 three-point shooting.
"All in all, defensively we hung tough," Miller told Fischer. "We were able to guard the three-point line, which is huge when you play Nebraska. Those guards are tough off the dribble."
Nebraska guard Cam Mack had 20 points, but only three in the second half.
Indiana wanted a fast start, and got a solid one. Guard Rob Phinisee hit an early three-pointer (a sign of Hoosier sharpshooting to come), and would have had two, but the second came just after the shot-clock expired.
A Smith rebound basket off a Jackson-Davis missed free throw put the Hoosiers ahead 14-12. Nebraska responded with 11 straight points in 81 seconds for a 23-14 lead, forcing Miller to call a timeout.
Indiana responded with an Al Durham three-pointer.
Nebraska went ahead 28-20. IU responded by ramping up the tempo. Jackson-Davis dunked. Franklin scored five straight points. That capped a 12-2 run to give the Hoosiers a 32-30 lead.
Guard Devonte Green hit a three-pointer to help IU push ahead 42-34. The Hoosiers ended the half ahead 46-41. Jackson-Davis flirted with a double-double with eight points and eight rebounds.
"The big thing was to play with confidence, especially after we took a shot early," Miller told Fischer. "I thought some guys did a great job. Our bench in the first half was a big key.
"We made some big shots -- Jerome and Armaan and De'Ron. Everybody who came off the bench gave us confidence."
That continued to start the second half. Brunk scored four quick points to help spark Indiana to that 16-2 run and a 19-point lead.
Nebraska had a run of its own, closing to eight points with eight minutes remaining, and to six with 36 seconds left.
The Hoosiers held on.
"In the second half, the first eight minutes was as well as we've played on offense," Miller told Fischer. "Things changed as game went on. It got a little difficult."
Now the nation's second-toughest schedule awaits, starting next week's pair of home games against No. 15 Michigan and No. 17 Maryland.
"We're looking forward to having another opportunity at home," Miller told Fischer.
Team Stats
IND
Nebr
FG%
.508
.397
3FG%
.308
.300
FT%
.600
.682
RB
48
30
TO
16
11
STL
2
8
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
6
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballForward
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