(Photo Credit: IndianaHQ)
BLOOMINGTON, IN — After a disappointing loss to Arkansas on Sunday, IU returned to Assembly Hall and defeated UT-Arlington, 78-64. As was the case in Fayetteville, IU did not have its full complement of players. The quartet of Devonte Green, Zach McRoberts, Race Thompson, and Jerome Hunter were absent, but news broke before tip-off that junior big man De’Ron Davis could not play due to a sore Achilles.
During the game, the Hoosiers were bit by the injury bug as well. Sophomore Al Durham hit the deck awkwardly early in the first half and after playing a few additional minutes, he exited the game. As the Mavericks cut the Hoosiers’ lead to one possession late in the second half, Big Ten Freshman of the Week Romeo Langford suffered a gruesome-looking injury to his nose. Head Coach Archie Miller did not comment on Durham’s or Langford’s availability for IU’s Friday tilt against UC Davis.
On the court, IU jumped out to 17-point halftime lead. Although there were some stagnant stretches on offense, the defense limited the Mavericks to 22 points and a stunning 2:13 assist:turnover ratio in the first half. Unfortunately, the injuries and short turnaround caught up with the Hoosiers in the second stanza.
The Mavericks used the 3-point line to claw their way back into the game. UTA made seven of their 17 threes in the second half, after converting a paltry one of 12 in the first. The junior duo of Indiana native Brian Warren and Edric Dennis combined to score 24 points after halftime. Conversely, IU struggled from beyond the arc, shooting 3-14. UTA cut IU’s lead to a single point with 6:33 to go. After seeing their star teammate Langford exit the game, the inspired Hoosiers found their finishing kick, concluding the game on a 17-4 run to seal the win. Senior stalwart Juwan Morgan, easily IU’s best player tonight, battered UT Arlington down low for 23 points and 9 rebounds, while Langford supported with 16 and 8 of his own, before leaving the game.
Box Score (Source: IU Athletics)
Indiana
