IOWA CITY, IA -- With 2:27 left in the first half, the Hoosiers' number 12 got up off the bench and hurried to the scorers table. \nIt was the first time since IU lost to Illinois in the 2004 Big Ten tournament that senior guard Donald Perry had checked into a game. \n"First time I've been out there all year, it was good to be out there," he said. "But just being out there ain't good enough."\nPlaying only six minutes, and not scoring, Perry gave the Hoosiers an option to rest point guard Marshall Strickland. \n"(We're) just trying to get another point guard in the game and give (Strickland) some rest," IU coach Mike Davis said.\nPerry knows Saturday afternoon wasn't just a fluke, and he set high standards for himself.\n"It felt good just being out there," Perry said. "I need to be out there and be effective, I got a lot of work to put in."
ALFORD BENCHES STARTERS
Three of the Hawkeyes' main starters -- Jeff Horner, Pierre Pierce and Greg Brunner -- weren't part of the first five Saturday afternoon. Iowa coach Steve Alford held them out of the starting line-up and the first couple minutes because he felt, as captains, they weren't "performing like they have to perform" in Iowa's last second loss to Northwestern Wednesday. \nDavis said having them come off the bench focused the three men, and made it harder for his Hoosiers. \n"I thought they did a great job of really trying to get their first guys up by not starting them," Davis said. "That was a great move by Steve. The guys came into the game, and all three guys made an impact in the game." \nThe trio made their debut just over two minutes into the game, and helped Iowa's bench outscore the Hoosiers bench 54 to 6. \nThe trio were the only three Hawkeyes to score in double digits for Iowa. \nPierce led the group with 25, Horner added 16 and Brunner scored 13. \n-- Contact Staff Writer Josh Weinfuss at jweinfuss@indiana.edu.
