Hoosiers shoot lights out first half, but cool down to let No. 4 Missouri get back in game, prevail 63-58

IU junior guard Donald Perry scored a team- and career-high 13 points IU in Saturday's 63-58 loss to No. 4 Missouri. \nThe 6-foot-3-inch Louisiana native also started as guard for the Hoosiers, his first start since his freshman year.\nPerry said he found out he would be starting the night after playing Wake Forest.\n"I was in the gym, in there shooting, and the coach was in his office," Perry said. "He called me in there, and we had a long talk."\nThe guard joined a starting lineup of sophomore guards Marshall Strickland and Bracey Wright and forwards sophomore Sean Kline and freshman Pat Ewing Jr.\nThe team held a steady lead throughout the first half and the majority of the second half. It came down to the last four minutes when everything fell apart.\n"We've got to learn how to win close games," Perry said. "But we're a young team."\nThe only time Perry played more minutes than Saturday was his freshman year when the team played Texas. He played for a total of 35 minutes against Missouri and 38 against Texas.\nPerry made some crucial shots for IU in the first half and nailed both of his free-throw attempts in the game. He also had three assists and two steals.\nPerry said his job, as one of the starting guards, was to get the team to execute plays in their spot.\n"The first half was good," Perry said. "But the second half everybody was standing around trying to do their own thing."\nCoach Mike Davis said Perry played well and had some big three-point baskets. Perry was 3-4 in threes.\nKline, who was a perfect 6-6 at the free-throw line Saturday, also said he noticed the good things Perry brought to the court.\n"He played a wonderful game and really controlled the game," Kline said. \nPerry said the team now has to brush it off and learn from what they did right and wrong.\nKline said it was unforunate for Perry to play such a good game in a losing effort.\n"It's heartbreaking to lose a game when you're up 10 with four minutes to go," Kline said. "But Donald played a wonderful game."\n-- Contact staff writer Natalie A. Trout at natrout@indiana.edu.