IU just didn't have it this evening, never did. Xavier wins 80-65, handing IU its worse loss under Sampson. Check out www.idsnews.com for a wrap of this evening's game.
IU is trying to piece together a run, but Xavier still leads by 11 with 2:20 remaining. TO Xavier.
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DJ White just picks up his forth foul, a really bad foul as his man had a clear lane to the basket. IU just does not have it this evening as sloppy defense, poor (and sometimes unlucky) shooting have characterized IU's play. Xavier leads 70-57 with 3:22.
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Gordon gets frustrated when he goes to the basket and does not get the foul. A small altercations occurs, but we are back to action. Xavier up 60-45 @ 9:18.
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An IU fan continues to yell at the ref that Xavier paid MORE money to the ref than IU, implying that IU also paid the ref. I find this pretty funny, but to the fan, who has consumed an beer or two, this makes perfect sense.
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IU is stuggling again shooting the ball this half. Stemler just picked up his forth foul, making him the second Hoosier with 4 personals. Xavier leads 56-43 @11:56.
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Thomas picks up his forth foul. Xavier extends its lead to 45-33 @18:20.
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The refs make up for it, as Thomas is not called for a foul when he clearly takes out the Xavier player.
Brandon noted that the ESPN game tracker said A.J. Ratliff is 1/1 for 2pts. This is not correct - Ratliff is not in the building tonight as he is still suspended for academic reasons. Ratliff likely will rejoin the team for the Dec. 15th game against Western Carolina, if he grades are in by then.
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Thomas picks up his third foul, although it looked like he did not touch Drew Lavender as he the Xavier guard took it to the bakset.
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Bassett hits a 3 with 55 seconds left, but Xavier answers with a three of its own. DJ White picks up his third foul making a move to the basket with 2 seconds left. IU played about as bad as it could as a team - poor shooting, sloppy defense and getting into foul trouble. Sampson will have to change things up to match-up with a Xavier team with a lot of momenteum on its side.
Xavier 40-29 at the half.
IU takes a timeout as Xavier jumps to a 31-25 lead. The Hoosiers have had its chances on the offensive end, but the team has seen several shots rim in and out of the basket. Xavier has taken advantage of sloppy defense to get easy baskets.
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Gordon picks up his third foul, likely sending the freshman to the bench for the rest of the half.
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Eric Gordon just gets called for a questionable charging call to send the game to a TV timeout. IU is struggling to rebound the ball on the defensive end, which is giving Xavier second chance opportunites. Part of this is due to White having to guard big men who can play on the outside, drawing IU's tallest rebounder away from the rim. The Hoosiers cannot grab any offensive rebounds to counter.
Xavier 24-20 @ 7:25
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After being held scoreless until the 10:42 mark, Eric Gordon scored 4 consecutive points to give IU the lead. DJ White answers an Xavier basket as the IU crowd gets loud. Xavier answers with a basket of its own to regain the lead.
Xavier 19-18 @ 9:00
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A very physical contest - there have been 13 total fouls whistled in the first 9 minutes. Before the TV timeout, Gordon drove to the basket a drew a blocking foul. He will be at the line after the break.
Tied 12-12 @ 11:31 ---
D.J. White is carrying the load as he has 8 of the first 12 points for IU. He has been active on the boards and just got into a tussle with an Xavier player over a lose ball. Gordon has been cold so far, going 0-4 from the field and missing a couple of opportunities for assists.
Tied 12-12 @ 12:27
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After a 10 minute break to fix the net, Thomas picks up his second foul. Lance Stemler comes in for Thomas.
Xavier 6-3 @ 16:20
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Xavier's Derrick Brown just threw down a massive dunk over Ellis and drew the blocking foul. The free throw is delayed because Brown ripped the net during the dunk.
Bassett currently is 0-3, missing on two three-pointers and a drive to the basket.
Xavier 4-3 @ 17:01
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The stadium has good atmosphere as both crowds are into the game early. It has been a physical contest so far. Xavier already has 3 team fouls.
IU 3-2 @17:44
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Starting line-up: DeAndre Thomas, D.J. White, Jamarcus Ellis, Armon Bassett, Eric Gordon ------------ The No. 8 Hoosiers will certainly move up in the polls this week with a win over Xavier (3-1) as No. 6 Louisville lost yesterday to BYU. IU will have its hands full with the Musketeers and point guard Drew Lavener, who played under Coach Kelvin Sampson for 2 years at Oklahoma.
The last the time IU and Xavier met, the Hoosiers won 80-77 in overtime at the 2003 Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis. The game should be tipping off on time as Kent State just defeated Illinois State 65-59.
