IU returns to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall tonight in the Big Ten home opener hosting a depleted Nebraska roster. The Cornhuskers had a starter suspended indefinitely in the hours ahead of tip off, and Nebraska only warmed up with 11 players.
IU, however, had its full compliment of scholarship players against the University of Conneticut for the first time in nearly 60 games. It is a heavy favorite against a Nebraska team that has already taken losses to University of California-Riverside, Southern Utah University and George Mason University. Follow along below for updates.
FINAL: It was far, far from pretty. But IU found a way to finish this time. It won 96-90. It didn't get the defense it needed, not even close. It won ugly again, that's worked so far. IU is 10-1, and gets its first Big Ten win.
34.4 seconds to play: IU needs to find a way to close again. Trayce Jackson-Davis and Rob Phinisee have been huge in this overtime period, and have IU with a six point lead in the closing seconds.
Nebraska timeout, 3:07 to play in OT: Trayce Jackson-Davis makes 1-2 at the line by Damezi Anderson gets a huge offensive rebound. Rob Phinisee pump fakes a defender into a jump, and makes a three as the shot clock expires. An Assembly Hall already on its feet roars. 88-82 IU.
END OF REGULATION: Overtime at Assembly Hall as Nebraska makes an incredible game tying three. IU had its chances to close it out in regulation, and the defense let it down over and over.
1:10 to go: IU leads by four after Trayce Jackson-Davis splits a pair at the line. Jackson-Davis got a huge offensive rebound to even get there and now has 20 points with 13 reboudns.
Nebraska timeout with 4:18 to go: Trayce Jackson-Davis has made all the difference. His play on defense inside has forced Nebraska into some worse shots. His play on offense not only has gotten him up to 19 total point and 11 rebounds, but it has given Justin Smith space to work as well. This combo works.IU leads 71-63
Second half under 8 timeout: 61-58 IU, just keeps staying close. TJD now has another double and once again has shown how key he is to IU’s interior play on both ends, especially since IU is 4-20 from three.
Second half under-12 timeout: Trayce Jackson-Davis has 10 points in the first eight minutes of this half. IU’s rebounding edge is up to 36-16 overall, and 14-1 this half. IU’s only up 4, 57-53.
Second half under-16 timeout: Justin Smith dunk, Al Durham three and IU suddenly goes into the under-16 timeout with a 51-49 lead. That 5-0 spurt is worth pinpointing.
HALFTIME: IU had a great start, and then cooled off real fast. It played a back and forth first half against Nebraska, and leads 40-39. Al Durham is the leading scorer with nine. IU leads in rebounding 22-15, but only shooting 60% from the line. IU had some weird shot selection. It didn’t make a FG in the final 2:27 of the half. It shot 3-13 from three. A lot of unnecessary jump shots when IU had success inside, 22 points in the paint and added nine points from the line.
Under-4 timeout: IU trailing 34-33. Shooting 43% from the field. It has 20 of its 33 points in the paint. Defense has just been, well, not great.
Under-8 timeout: The lead is jumping back and forth at Assembly Hall as IU's offense continues to stay in another one of its stagnant periods. Nebraska leads 29-26 at the timeout, though Rob Phinisee did have a quick five points inlcluding a three. IU is 2-11 from three in this game and has had strange shot selection.
Under-12 timeout: And after IU got out to a big lead, it gave it all right back. Nebraska goes on a 14-2 run and takes the lead. Though Al Durham has given IU some huge minutes, and made two free throws to put IU back in front 17-16 at the timeout. He's been IU's best offensive player tonight, easily. He has nine of IU's 17 points.
Nebraska timeout, 16:59 to play in first half: After so many slow starts, IU started fast against Nebraska. The Hoosiers opned the game on an 11-2 run, capped off by a Justin Smith alley-oop. Complete control on both ends through three minutes.
