IU beats UMBC 89-47 to move to 12-0

After shooting just 2-of-14 from three-point range in the first half Thursday evening, IU responded with a 9-of-13 effort in the second half as the Hoosiers beat UMBC 89-47 at Assembly Hall.

IU played without injured forwards Derek Elston (nose) and Will Sheehey (leg). Senior guard Verdell Jones III left the game late in the first half with an apparent hip injury and did not return.

Replacing Jones in the starting lineup in the second half was senior guard Matt Roth. Coming into Thursday night’s game, IU led the nation in three-point shooting and Roth helped the cause knocking down 4-of-5 from beyond the arc in the second half.

Junior forward Christian Watford led the Hoosiers with his first double-double in a year thanks to a 22-point, 10-rebound effort.

IU had 33 points off 19 UMBC turnovers and closed the game on a 49-17 run.

The win moves the Hoosiers to 12-0 on the season as they begin Big Ten play on Dec. 28 at Michigan State.