LIVE BLOG: Follow Indiana's Game With Providence in Real Time
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Welcome inside the bubble of the Harrah's Cherokee Center for the first round of the Camping World Maui Invitational basketball tournament. It's very quiet in here, with only squeaking sneakers from the players and some artificial noise being piped in.
There are no fans in the stands, not even parents of the players or staff members. There's a very small amount of media people too, and I'm glad to be one of them.
It's Indiana and Providence in the first round, and it starts at 2:30 p.m.. Here's the link to our story on how to watch the game, and some notes and nuggets. CLICK HERE
Follow along on our blog and keep refreshing here at HoosiersNow.com. Let’s get it started!!
IT'S A FINAL: Indiana wins 79-58 to advance to the second-round against Texas. Here';s the full game story. CLICK HERE
3:52 p.m. — Really nice high-low pass from Trayce Jackson-Davis to Race Thompson. Those guys really work well together. And a nice pair of back-to-back 3-pointers from Al Durham, puts Indiana back up by 15 at 51-36 with 14:39 to go.
HALFTIME @ 3:39 — We said there would be two keys to Indiana winning this game, and that would be rebounding and free throws. Check and check in the first half. Indiana won the battle on the boards 21-13 and made 7 of 8 free throws. They've looked good in building a 13-point halftime lead. Race Thompson had a great half, with 11 points and 5 rebounds. He was overlooked a bit in the opener because of foul trouble, but he's playing with a lot of confidence today. Indiana's defense was great too, allowing only 24 points and forcing nine turnovers.
3:27 — Providence cuts the lead from 17 to 11 with a little spurt and Miller had to call timeout. Al Durham get to the line with 4.3 seconds left and makes two. At the half, the Hoosiers lead 37-24.
3:18 — Everything doing well for the Hoosiers outside of 3-point shooting. Just 2-for-9 from deep, but the Friars are 0-5. Media timeout with 3:33 to go in the half. 31-16, good guys.
3:15 — A very nice sequence there by freshman Jordan Geronimo. He forced a five-second call on the defensive end and then hit a three-pointer on the other side. Indiana leads 30-15
3:05 — it’s the Trayce and Race show so far. Really controlling the boards and getting putbacks. Indiana leads 25-11 with 7:10 left in the first half. Defense has been excellent. Rebounding too. IU leads 25-7 there.
2:57 — Jerome Hunter picks up a second quick foul and heads to the bench. Trayce comes back in. No Joey Brunk yet. Second media timeout and Indiana leads 17-9.
2:52 — Trey Galloway and Jerome Hunter the first two Hoosiers off the bench.
2:45 pm ET — Another big key to this game is Indiana doing a better job at the free-throw line after going only 10 for 22 in the opener. So it was a good time to see Race Thompson knock down his first two free throws. Armaan Franklin just hit a three in Indiana leads 9-4 at the first media timeout. Looking good out of the gate.
2:42 p.m. ET — Race Thompson gets an offensive rebound and a put-back for Indiana’s first score. Rebounding a huge key in this game, as we’ve discussed.
2:40 p.m. ET — Hoosiers are the visitors and wearing red. Starters for Indiana are Trayce Jackson-Davis, Race Thompson, Armando Franklin, Rob Phinisee and Al Durham.
MY TWO CENTS: 230 p.m. ET — Jason Benetti and Bill Walton on the call for ESPN2. #nails #chalkboard on B-dub. They aren’t here. Broadcasting remotely.
2:20 p.m. ET — Indiana center Joey Brunk is dressed and is warming up. Looks like he’s good to go after missing the opener with a sore back. Slight delay to start, so figure on about a 2:40 tip.
Indiana warming up.
2:13 p.m. ET — The first game of the tournament featuring No. 17 Texas and Davidson has run long. It’s been a tight game throughout. Texas finally won, 78-76z If the Hoosiers win today, they'll get Shaka Smart’s Texas team at 1:30 p.m. p.m. Tuesday afternoon. If they lose, they'll get Davidson at 7 p.m.
1:45 p.m. ET — Indiana and Providence are both 1-0, grabbing easy victories in their season openers. Indiana won 89-59 in Bloomington against Tennessee Tech and Providence won a home game against Fairfield, winning 97-56. Center Nate Watson had 23 points and 10 rebounds, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Indiana handles him.
Providence center Nate Watson (0) rebounds the ball in front of Villanova forward Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (24) and guard Justin Moore (5) last February. (USA TODAY Sports)
