What Race Thompson Said After Indiana's 89-75 Loss to Arizona in Las Vegas
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LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Indiana dug itself a 27-8 hole in the first half, but forward Race Thompson hit a trio of 3-pointers to make it a five-point game with 3:47 left in the half.
Thompson finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, but Indiana lost 89-75 to Arizona on Saturday in Las Vegas. Here's what Thompson said after the game.
On Arizona's front court play...
Thompson: It's a really good team. They got big guys, and I think they just beat us up on the glass a little bit and that hurt us. Same thing happened in the Rutgers game. I think if we win the backboard, rebounding game, I think it's a way better game and we have a better chance to win.
On Indiana's run in the first half...
Thompson: I think we just had to find our rhythm a little bit. I think everybody just had to kind of settle down. We're playing in Vegas, big stage, it's a lot of fun, but I think we just had to find our rhythm and settle down a little bit. That's what we talked about in timeouts.
On Arizona's 17-0 run...
Thompson: I think I just saw, we just weren't doing the things that we practice every day. We practice nail, slot, rim and they beat us at playing our own game. I mean we pride ourselves on rebounding and playing defense, and we let up too many points tonight and I think that was a spark to that. Giving up 45 points in the first half is too many for us.
On what Arizona did and what Indiana failed to do...
Thompson: I think it's a combination of both. That's a really good team we just played. I wish we could tip it up right now again, but I think it's just a combination of both.
On Thompson's 3-point shooting...
Thompson: I give all the credit to my teammates and coaches on that one. In the past couple games I wasn't as confident, and this whole week they preached to me and believed in me and after I missed that first one, they said, 'Shoot it again,' and I think that just keeps giving me confidence that coach wants me to shoot it, my teammates know I can shoot it. So I think that just gives me confidence, and I give all the credit to my teammates.
On Arizona's 3-point shooting...
Thompson: They definitely hurt. I know we were down two and they hit a big 3 to put them up five. Those shots hurt, and I think all those shots came off of offensive rebounds, if I'm not mistaken, almost all of them came off of offensive rebounds. When you get offensive rebounds, those are high-percentage 3s, so I feel like those always go in. So if we win that battle on the glass, it's a different game.
On adjustments Indiana made to make runs...
Thompson: It was toughen up, really. We're here, we're playing, you've got to wake up and play. I think that's all it really was. We had to wake up and put our foot on the gas and not let it off. I think if we had started the game off like that again, it might be a different game.
On the game feeling like the NCAA Tournament...
Thompson: It was a fun game, for sure. A lot of energy on both sides. It was like 50/50 in the fans, and it definitely had that feeling.
Related stories on Indiana basketball
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- WHAT XAVIER JOHNSON SAID: Indiana point guard Xavier Johnson scored 11 points with 11 rebounds on Saturday, but the Hoosiers were outmatched in a 89-75 loss to Arizona. Here's what Johnson said after the game. CLICK HERE
- PHOTO GALLERY: The Indiana Hoosiers suffered their second loss of the season on Saturday night, losing to the Arizona Wildcats 89-75 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Saturday night. Here are the best photos from the matchup. CLICK HERE
- WATCH JACKSON-DAVIS' LAYUP: Indiana senior forward Trayce Jackson-Davis grabbed an offensive rebound and converted a left-handed layup over the Arizona defense. CLICK HERE
- WATCH THOMPSON'S 3-POINTER: Indiana forward Race Thompson got hot from 3-point land in the first half against Arizona in the Las Vegas Clash. CLICK HERE
- WATCH GALLOWAY'S BLOCK: Indiana's Trey Galloway came up with a big defensive play in the first half, blocking Courtney Ramey's shot off the backboard. CLICK HERE
- WATCH BATES' 3-POINTER: Indiana sophomore guard Tamar Bates led a 12-4 run early in the second half against Arizona in the Las Vegas Clash. CLICK HERE
