Game over. The Hoosiers really took it to the Wildcats today winning 70-51. It's hard to overstate Jordan Crawford's impact on this game. After sitting out the last three games due to suspension, Crawford played nearly the entire game, scored 20 points and most importantly solidified a Hoosier backcourt while Gordon and Bassett sat on the bench.
No word on why Bassett didn't play today. Kelvin Sampson is expected to answer that question during the postgame press conference.
Brandon McGee subs in for Mike White. White gets a nice smattering of applause from the crowd as he heads to the bench. He earned it today.
70-51@1:00
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Jamarcus Ellis fouls out to precipitate one of the oddest lineup of the year. D.J. White, Mike White, Lance Stemler, DeAndre Thomas and Jordan Crawford are all on the floor at the same time. Call it the "Jumbo Package."
66-47@3:55
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Joe Crawford pulls the Wildcats within 19 with a 3-pointer. Six and a half minutes to go. It looks like it's all a formality at this point.
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UK guard Michael Porter fouls out of the game as DeAndre Thomas extends IU's lead from the charity stripe.
56-35@9:44
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Jordan Crawford hits another 3, and Kentucky scores on two straight possessions. Still a sizable lead for the Hoosiers.
53-35@11:07
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Technical foul on Joe Crawford after he scores his first field goal of the game. Looks like this brother battle is bringing out the worst in Joe.
51-30@12:30
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It's 48-28 at the 14-minute mark in the second half. Raymont Harris scored for the Wildcats before the timeout. IU continues to outwork Kentucky on both ends of the court.
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IU has scored nine unanswered points to open the half. Looks like keeping the intensity level up will not be a problem.
46-25@15:59
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Jordan Crawford hits a 3 from two feet behind the line. He has 15 points thus far compared to his brother's one. Jordan really IS better.
44-25@16:50
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Stemler takes a charge from Wildcat Mark Coury and Ellis scores on one of his patented contested bank shots.
39-25@18:44
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Halftime remarks:
The Hoosiers looked great to start the half, but seemed to tire a bit towards the end. They were able to get some points to close out the half to push their lead back to double digits. Mike White and DeAndre Thomas seem to be playing well as does Jordan Crawford. Without Gordon or Bassett, they really came to play in the first half.
The turnovers are killing Kentucky. The Wildcats had 11 in the first half. They could easily be in this game or have a lead if it wasn't for dumb dribbling violations.
It will be interesting to see if IU can maintain their intensity in the second half.
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Jordan Crawford draws a foul and sinks both free throws. D.J. White sinks a jumper near the free throw line. Sampson substituted D.J. for Eli Holman on defense and then put White back in on offense. A good move as White made the basket on offense and wasn't in danger of picking up a third foul on defense.
37-25@HALFTIME
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Mike White picks up his third personal foul and D.J. re-enters the game with two fouls.
32-25@1:49
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Double dribble called on Joe Crawford. Kentucky has really had some careless turnovers this half.
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Patterson scores on two possession in a row for Kentucky. Then, Joe Crawford nabs a steal and an easy lay up. 6-0 run for the Wildcats.
31-23@2:59
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Mike White is taking this white-out thing seriously. He draws another foul and records his sixth and seventh points of the game from the line.
31-17@4:45
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Another Kentucky turnover. IU now has a 14-point lead with six minutes in the half.
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Student chant: "Jordon's better!" in reference to Kentucky's Joe Crawford, Jordan's older brother. ---
At 7:58, the Hoosiers have built a ten point lead. Crawford and Ellis have played well at this point in the game and Sampson has to be pleased with the way his team is playing right now. With D.J. probably sitting the rest of the half, Thomas and Mike White are going to have to step up.
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Jordan Crawford makes a steal and scores to put IU up 8. Assembly Hall is shaking.
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Jordan Crawford hits back-to-back 3-pointers, but the Wildcats answer with a three of their own and a 3-point play by Patrick Patterson.
17-13@9:08
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D.J. White picks up his second foul with 11 minutes in the half. Mike White subs in for D.J.
11-7@10:31
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The students entertain themselves during the timeout by batting a beach ball around in the stands. An usher is lustily booed after temporarily taking the ball away. Who says there isn't a student section?
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DeAndre has drawn two fouls since entering the game, but hasn't capitalized at the free throw line, missing three free throws. He also had a turnover.
11-5@11:50
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D.J. continues to play well scoring on a baseline turnaround. The Wildcats miss a lay up and D.J's shot bounces over the backboard on the next possession. Thomas replaces Mike White.
9-4@13:04
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After an offensive foul on D.J. White, IU and Kentucky trade misses. The Hoosiers have looked solid on the boards in the game's opening.
7-2@15:43
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An Ellis 3-pointer from the corner makes it 5-2 IU. At the 17:10 mark D.J. White gets fouled and makes both free throws. 7-2.
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The white out is in full effect and the crowd is riled to begin the game.
Mike White scores on a lay up on IU's first possession. Man, it's loud.
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Eric Gordon is dressed on the bench, but not shooting around with the team as the tip approaches. Doesn't look like he's playing.
Starters: Jamarcus Ellis, Jordan Crawford, Mike White, Lance Stemler and D.J. White
With Gordon and Bassett out, the Hoosiers are perilously thin at guard. Ellis and Crawford will have to step up big if IU is to compete this afternoon.
