Hoosiers tossed out of Rupp by Wildcats, lose 72-54

LEXINGTON, KY — Kentucky started the game on a 22-4 run and never looked back, crushing the IU men's basketball team 72-54.

As they have all season long, IU grappled with turnovers. In all, the Hoosiers turned the ball over 15 times in the first half and were unable to recover from the run Kentucky generated from the mistakes.

IU  never brought the Wildcats' lead within single digits after their initial run.

The rout is IU's second in as many road games this season. The Hoosiers lost to then-No. 15 Wake Forest 83-58 on Dec. 3 in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The loss drops the Hoosiers to 5-5 on the season. They return to action Dec. 22 when they take on Northeastern in Bloomington. The game will be one of only two over winter break – with both at home – before the Hoosiers open up conference play at Iowa on Jan. 3, 2009.