After one half, IU leads No. 22 SMU 38-33.
None of the three players coming off of suspension—freshman Emmitt Holt and sophomores Stanford Robinson and Troy Williams—started for IU, but both Williams and Robinson saw playing time.
SMU got off to a hot start to lead by as many as 12 with 10:51 left in the half as the IU shooters got hold. IU tried to combat SMU’s scoring with 3-point attempts, but the Hoosiers only made 1-of-7 from long range.
After the slow start, IU’s shooters found a rhythm and started connecting on 3-pointers where IU was 7-of-18 shooting.
That, combined with a turnover-prone SMU team, made up for IU’s lack of rebounding. The Mustangs won the rebound battle 21-15.
SMU found success creating open looks either in the paint—where the Mustangs scored 22 points—and by creating open jumpshot looks from passes out of the painted area.
Freshman guard James Blackmon Jr. leads IU with 14 points. He was 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.
SMU shot 55.6 percent from the field. IU shot 35.5 percent.
Sam Beishuizen
