After five cupcakes to start the season, IU faces by far its toughest test of the season as it hosts Louisiana Tech University tonight at Assembly Hall. The Bulldogs are the first team IU has faced inside the top 100 of the KenPom rankings, and is top 20 nationally allowing just 57.4 points per game. That goes up against an IU offense scoring the fourth most points per game in the nation at 90.6. An IU win would give it a 6-0 start, the best the team has had since the 2012-13 season. Follow along below for updates of the action:
FINAL: IU beats Louisiana Tech 88-75. IU was far from consistent. It had stretches where it played easily its best basketball of the season, and some where it played some of its worst. Against the best defense, let alone the best team IU has faced, it still put up 88 points.
IU still has to clean up the defense. It wasn't always pretty despite forcing 20 turnovers. IU had 18 turnovers of its own.
Trayce Jackson-Davis led IU with 21 points, and added 11 rebounds. Devonte Green, Al Durham and Joey Brunk all had double-digit points.
For the first time since the 2012-13 seasonk IU is 6-0.
Second half under-4 timeout: IU has four scorers in double figures. The play of the first half hasn't been replicated in the second, but its been a big half for Trayce Jackson-Davis who now has his third double-double. IU leads 80-66.
Second half under-8 timeout: IU shows some brief signs of life, and the lead stands at 70-58. La. Tech cut the lead down to 10, before IU went on a brief 5-0 run. Just still isn't the same offense. IU was 4-6 from three at one point. It has done 2-10 since.
Second half under-12 timeout: La. Tech keeps hanging in there, kind of. IU leads 62-49 in a sloppy start to the second half. Since IU got out to the large lead it has played more slower, more complacent baketball. IU has played sloppy basketball, and is racking up turnovers. It still has a safe lead, the defense has played well enough this half to ensure that. But the offense hasn't been the same at all.
Second half under-16 timeout: A bit of a sloppy start to the half, five turnovers in the first few minutes. It took over three minutes for IU to make its first field goal, a Trayce Jackson-Davis layup. It didn't matter, as the Bulldogs weren't able to make much of a dent in the lead. IU leads 56-40.
Halftime: IU leads 52-36 over Louisiana Tech. It hasn't looked that good in awhile. IU shot 61% from the field in the first half and 48% from three. It's been a long time since IU had a half time that, and it would increase IU's already second best halftime scoring per game in the nation.
Devonte Green leads IU with 15 points and Al Durham has 12. Green is 3-4 from three.
It wasn't perfect, the defense could have, and needed to be better. But when IU is scoring like that, it doesn't really matter.
First half under-4 timeout: IU has slowed it down a bit since getting out to a 23 point lead, and Louisiana Tech has climbed back into the game, at least a little bit, as a result. The lead is down to 47-33. Hoosiers are still playing quite well, but maybe not with the same elacrity it had jumping out to the lead.
La. Tech timeout, 8:11 to play: IU is putting it all together. Bulldogs were forced to take timeout as IU was in the midst of a 10-0 run to take a 37-16 lead. IU is 5-9 from three, which is already better than it does in most games. Devonte Green has 12 points onf 5-7 shooting. A size advantage has been big too, as IU holds an 11-5 rebounding edge. IU has already forced eight turnovers. The Hoosiers haven't looked this good in awhile.
First half under-12 timeout: IU is playing about as well as it has all season. The top-five scoring offense is looking just the part against a strong Louisiana Tech defense. IU is 4-6 from the three, the best its shot from three in quite awhile. Hoosiers lead 29-16. Even Race Thompson made a three, the first of his career. Devonte Green is up to seven points.
First half under-16 timeout: Al Durham has the offense rolling. He has eight points as IU has a 12-2 run to take a 12-4 lead at the first media timeout. IU has had a clear size advantage with Joey Brunk, and has been great in transition. Durham gave IU its first three of the game heading into the timeout.
La. Tech timeout, 17:46 to play: IU had an ugly looking first offensive possession, but have lived in transition with three straight lay-ups out running. IU has been strong in transition offense all seaosn, that continues to start out tonight. IU leads 6-2.
Pregame: Rob Phinisee is not in uniform. Once again, IU will not have a healthy group of scholarship players. Phinisee continues to bounce in and out of availablity over the first six games.
Pregame: De'Ron Davis is in uniform for warm-ups after missing IU's game against Princeton. Rob Phinisee wasn't present for early warm ups and his status is unclear. IU's revolving door of injuries looks to be turning again.
