Rapid Reaction: Indiana Beats North Alabama for 3rd Straight Win
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana hasn't found much consistency so far early in the college basketball season, but the Hoosiers at least are going on enough long runs to keep securing victories.
Indiana got its third straight win Tuesday night, beating a pesky North Alabama team 91-65 at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. The Lions kept things close for a half by staying on fire from 3-point range, but a concerted defensive effort in the second half turned the tide for Indiana.
How good was it? Well, after allowing 40 first-half points, the Hoosiers allowed only 7 in the first 10 minutes of the second half to take control of the game.
Freshman Trayce Jackson-Davis had himself a great night at the free throw line, making his first 13 attempts before finally missing. He also and a tomahawk dunk to end a drive down the lane that got the Assembly Hall crowd off its feet, and another one on an alley-oop pass from Damezi Anderson midway through the second half. He finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds, and had 3 blocked shots, as well.
Sophomore guard Rob Phinisee, who's still on a minutes count because of a lower abdominal injury, came off the bench to score 13 points. Jerome Hunter (12) and Damezi Anderson (10) also had good nights off the bench.
North Alabama kept the game close throughout the first half by staying red-hot from the 3-point line, which was a rapid departure from their season opener, where they went 0-for-12 from 3 against South Carolina.
Sophomore guard Jamari Blackmon was the main culprit, hitting all four of his 3-point attempts in the first half, and scoring 16 points.
Indiana tried to finally pull away with 6 minutes left, going on an 8-0 run to take a 39-30 lead. They stretched it out even further to 13 points, but then North Alabama scored the last six points of the half to get within 47-40 at the break.
North Alabama just couldn't get anything going offensively in the second half. Blackmon was the Lions' leading scorer with 19 points.
INJURY NEWS: Indiana senior guard Devonte Green missed his third straight game with a hamstring injury. He watched the game from the bench in sweats.
NEXT UP: Indiana is back in action on Saturday night when it takes on Troy at Assembly Hall. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. ET.
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