In its return home, IU leads Grand Canyon 42-31 despite shooting only 37.5 percent from the floor.
After missing its first three 3-point attempts, IU converted on five of its next six 3-point attempts to go up 25-11 just under halfway through the opening period.
The lead against Grand Canyon eroded a bit after that, getting as low as eight points with under two minutes left in the half before sophomore guard Collin Hartman hit a 3-pointer to make it 29-11 to force a Grand Canyon timeout with 1:29 left in the half.
The Antelopes responded with a mid-range jumper to cut the lead back to nine which IU sophomore forward Troy Williams responded with a pair of free throws to make it 42-31, which was the final scoring of the half.
IU had 24 rebounds, including 11 offensive boards, in the game’s first 12 minutes. IU’s 12 offensive rebounds against Grand Canyon in that span was more than the Hoosiers managed the entire game against Louisville on Tuesday.
The only problem for IU was that it turned those 11 offensive rebounds into just four second-chance points.
IU freshman guard James Blackmon Jr. had seven points to lead IU but continued to struggle from beyond the arc. By missing three 3-point attempts, he has now missed his last 10 tries from long range.
Grand Canyon has the ball to start the second half.
Sam Beishuizen
