Emotions run high in Indy

INDIANAPOLIS -- The RCA Dome generally doesn't host a college basketball game until the NCAA or Big Ten tournament. But when IU and Purdue faced off in a pre-conference showdown Saturday night, many of the characteristics of a high-stakes conference or March Madness game were present.\nThe "Duel in the Dome" did not run short on aggressive play, and it was not missing an emotional crowd. \nFans clad in cream and crimson in some sections and gold and black in others erupted in loud cheers as IU and Purdue took the court for the opening tip.\n"Tonight was a perfect atmosphere, and we expected a fight," junior guard A.J. Moye said. "We tried to prepare for this mentally, and I think we did a good job of it. I wasn't at all surprised with Purdue's intensity. This is one of the better Purdue teams I have seen. They are tough, quick and are loaded with good ballplayers."\nThe Boilermakers scrappy defensive effort provided them with a two point lead at 29-27 heading into the locker room at half time. \nAs the game came down to the wire in the second half and the teams began exchanging the lead, the intensity of both teams was elevated.\nWith just under fifteen minutes to go in the game, junior center George Leach tied the game up at 33 all when he hit a jump hook in post. Purdue forward junior Chris Booker was fouled by Leach on the next possession, however, and put the Boilers back up by two. \nAs senior point guard Tom Coverdale brought the ball back up for the Hoosiers, Purdue senior guard Willie Deane stole the ball and was fouled hard by Coverdale on the ensuing fast break. \nThe referee called it a flagrant foul, which sent Hoosier fans into loud protest and Boiler fans into raucous cheers. \nBoth teams maintained the physical play for the remainder of the game.\n"Every time you play Purdue it's gonna be physical, and we knew that coming in," Coverdale said. "I just thought we did a good job of not backing down to the way they were playing. We knew it was gonna be that way coming in, and we were just glad we got the win."\nIU senior forward Jeff Newton, who had no points and two rebounds in the first half, came out in the second half attacking the basket. He drove the ball from the top of the key, posted up inside and drew six fouls from the Boilermakers. He ended the game with sixteen points and twelve rebounds for his fifth straight double-double, which helped the Hoosiers secure the 66-63 victory.\nNewton credited Purdue's defense with his slow start.\n"I think this was the best defense we have seen all year," he said. "This was Big Ten basketball. We knew going in it was going to be our toughest game yet. You get in this atmosphere and anything can happen. In the second half, we just tried to take it to the hole on them and break down their defense."\nIU coach Mike Davis said Newton's game was at its best when he was playing near the basket, rather than settling for outside shots.\n"Jeff is giving us some of the things that (Jared) Jeffries did last year," he said. "He's averaging a double-double, which Jeffries never did. He's really good at taking the ball to the basket…I told him to forget about the pull-jumper." \nLeach also provided strong inside play against the Boilers. He scored 11 points, grabbed 14 boards and blocked 4 shots in only 24 minutes of play.\nHe said the refs allowed both teams to maintain aggressive play. \n"It was a very intense game, and the refs actually let us play tonight too, so that was fun," he said. "(The refs) called a good game; it wasn't just one-sided calls. It was a good, physical game"