Hoosiers travel to Penn State looking for a win

Following Saturday's double-overtime loss to Iowa, senior A.J. Moye had a talk with his teammates. He said he spoke with emotion and from the heart to let his teammates know how he felt with this being his last year. \nIU (11-9, 5-4 Big Ten) will take the floor at 6 p.m. tonight at Penn State to see if that message has finally sunk in. \n"Everybody knows what it takes now, there's no doubt in my mind," Moye said. "We're going to give everything we've got to win. We saw what happens when we take stuff for granted out there on that floor."\nEmotions got the best of several players last week after the Hoosiers dropped three straight games, two of those at home. Moye and sophomore forward Sean Kline both talked about the lack of team effort, without naming names. \nIU coach Mike Davis said he should be the only one to point fingers because he doesn't hold it personal against anyone.\n"What was said about the guys I'm disappointed in because everybody is affected by it, and everyone is responsible for executing their part of it," Davis said. "We had breakdowns everywhere on Saturday, so no one should point fingers, just come out and play."\nThe Hoosiers will also be without the services of freshman forward Pat Ewing Jr. Davis suspended Ewing for academic issues.\n"Since the start of Big Ten play, Penn State has been one of the top rebounding teams in the league, so we will miss Pat's presence inside," Davis said in a statement Tuesday. "But this decision hopefully sends a message to our entire team that their classwork is, should and always will be the top priority at Indiana."\nMoye's talk to the team seems to have helped. He said everyone is staying together. Kline said the talk was about how the team needs to be a family again.\n"When we won five in a row, everybody at least acted like they cared for each other, and everyone was on the same page," Kline said. "But you lose two in a row at home, the crowd starts talking and the fans start talking. We can't let that get to us because five of the teams of the remaining seven we have left, we've beaten. We just need to take care of business one game at a time."\nSince starting the Big Ten season 2-0, the Nittney Lions (9-10, 3-5) have gone 1-5 in their last six games. They are led by junior forward Jan Jagla, who is averaging 14.6 points per game. Freshman guard Marlon Smith is also averaging 12.1 points.\n"It's a must-win for us," Davis said. "When you go on the road there, a road win is a must-win. It's like Michigan. It was a must-win when we played there. If we keep our concentration, keep our heads, stay focused and not get off track, then we have four losses with seven to go. We just have to take care of business."\nIU is 21-2 all-time against Penn State. The Hoosiers lost the last time they traveled up to the Bryce Jordan Center. \nKline said this game is crucial for the Hoosiers to get back on pace.\n"Every game is important, but this just magnifies it a 100 more percent," Kline said. "We know what we have to do, and we have to go out and do it."\n-- Contact staff writer Tyler V. Hoeppner at thoeppne@indiana.edu.