Strickland, Moye, Leach lead team with career-high nights

Three IU players had career nights in three different categories as the Hoosiers pulled out their first home win in over a month Wednesday as they defeated Michigan, 61-56.\nSophomore guard Marshall Strickland scored a career-high 21 points on 7-17 shooting, 5-10 behind the arc, to lead the Hoosiers (13-13, 7-8 Big Ten). Senior forward A.J. Moye had 15 rebounds, and senior center George Leach was a presence on the defensive end with seven blocks.\n"I thought Marshall Strickland was tremendous for their team," Michigan coach Tommy Amaker said. "They made eight threes, and one of our points of emphasis was trying to defend the three-point line, and it doesn't look like we did a good job looking at the percentage they shot."\nStrickland bested his career-high set earlier this year by one point. He said the team fed off the energy brought to the court by Michigan (16-10, 7-8). He said the team was able get up and down the floor a lot faster, creating open looks.\n"Even the shots I missed, I thought they were going down," Strickland said. "I was surprised they left me open that long."\nWhile the rest of the team combined hit 12 shots, Strickland stepped up and scored 14 of his 21 in the second half. Sophomore guard Bracey Wright said he was happy with the way Strickland played.\n"He had a really hot hand and I told everybody, 'Just keep going to him. Find him wherever he is. Ride his hand until he cools down,' -- and that's what he did," Wright said. "He came through for us."\nAmaker called Moye a terror on the backboards and thought his toughness around the rim and guarding bigger guys was a key for the Hoosiers. Moye's previous career-high was 13 rebounds against Wisconsin Jan 6.\nIU coach Mike Davis said Moye did a great job on the boards.\n"He had 15 rebounds and 10 were defensive rebounds, and that may be the first time he's gotten more than three or four defensive rebounds," Davis said. "For him to get 10 was big."\nThe seven blocks in a game marks the third time Leach has accomplished the feat. His final one came in the closing seconds with the Hoosiers up three. Davis said the play made him nervous because he didn't want Leach to foul.\n"That's good and bad because we want George to play position basketball," Davis said. "We want him to try to take away the passes to the post and not go for the blocks and just play good position basketball."\nAs the season ends, the Hoosiers will need more performances like this one from their two seniors if they hope to go out strong.\n"They were huge for us," Strickland said. "They play with a lot of energy, and they do what they do best. George was blocking shots, and A.J. was fighting and getting rebounds and loose balls. With those playing with that kind of energy and playing their game, we're a really tough team"