IU snaps losing streak, defeats Michigan 80-61

IU coach Tom Crean knew exactly what his team needed to do to win.

He told his fellow coaches Saturday that if the Hoosiers didn't make defensive mistakes and got the ball to prime spots on offense there was no way they would lose.

The players did just that - and more - and IU won its first Big Ten game of the season and broke a six-game losing streak in the process with a dominating 80-61 victory against Michigan on Saturday at Assembly Hall.

"We had very good carryover from a very good week of practice, and our players understood that it began with what our defensive transition was going to be like because of how well they push the ball up the court" Crean said. "They did an excellent job with that."

Junior guard Verdell Jones led with a near-perfect offensive game, scoring a game-high 24 points on 9-of-10 shooting. As Michigan made small runs in the second half, sophomore guard Jordan Hulls completed Jones' mid-range game with three 3-pointers and 13 points.

Hulls didn't attempt a shot in the first half, but with Michigan making a series of small runs to bring a 21-point IU lead down to 11, he came alive from beyond the arc to keep the Hoosiers' cushion.

"They came at a great time," Crean said of Hulls' 3-pointers. "Just a tremendous stat line for him - played the most minutes of anybody on the team ... That's exactly what we need. That's what his teammates expect of him. That's what we see in practice."

IU nearly led the entire way, with Michigan's only lead vanishing with 18:47 to go in the first half. The Hoosiers led by as many points as 21 in the second half as they shot a blistering 67.4 percent from the field and held the Wolverines to just 36 percent shooting.

Michigan went about eight minutes without a rebound to open the game and were dominated on the glass for the game. Led by sophomore forward Christian Watford's
10 rebounds, IU won the rebounding battle 37-18.

Watford added 17 points for his fourth double-double of the game, and Crean summed up what he needed from the team's leading scorer in one word.

"He needed to dominate," he said. "He needed to dominate whether it was the glass. He needed to dominate whether it was with the post up. He's shooting the ball a lot better all the time."

Junior forward Tom Pritchard helped with a large amount of energy in a starting spot with seven rebounds in 25 minutes.

IU held Michigan to only 15 points in the first half, and while the Wolverines responded with 46 in the second half, the Hoosiers added 50 of their own.

Sophomore guard Maurice Creek had a scary moment late in the second half after a fast break layup, when he buckled to the floor and clutched at his knee. He walked off on his own power several minutes later, and entered the game after the next timeout.

IU next travels to No. 21 Wisconsin on Thursday, which is fresh off a 76-66 victory against Illinois on Saturday.