The game was closer than the final 69-55 score as the Hoosier pulled away in the last few minutes of the game to get the victory. The Hoosiers are still alive for a Big Ten championship, but need Wisconsin to lose one of its remaining two games.
Mike White comes in replacing DJ Wtite. DJ goes to the middle of the floor and blows kisses to all the fans. The crowd erupts as Ahlfeld takes the court.
Next Finkelmeier comes in to Stemler. Another big cheer.
Crawford comes in for Ahlfeld and Dre comes in for Mike White. Nice gesture from Dakich as both reserves get a send-off from the AH fans.
A "Thank you seniors" chant comes from the student section.
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With the game seemingly out of reach, the student section is calling for Adam Ahlfeld to come in.
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TO from Coach Tubby Smith as UM falls down 10 points.
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Ellis gets his 9th and 10th points from the line, giving him a double-double with 13 rebounds.
Big play from Coleman who blocked an Armon Bassett lay-up attempt.
Scary moment for Hoosier fans as Gordon goes down hard attempting a dunk. Gordon goes 2-2 from the line, extending the IU lead to 58-50 @ 4:17.
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A three from Bassett extends the lead to 4 after the teams went back and forth for a few minutes, but Coleman responds to cut the IU lead to 52-50.
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Minnesota takes the lead with a put-back from Coleman.
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McKenzie cannot miss - making difficult shots seem easy. He has cut the Hoosier lead to 46-45 with 8:48 remaining.
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An offensive rebound and a put-back lay-up from Taber gets the crowd on its feet.
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Five straight points from McKenzie cuts the IU lead to 40-38. IU is not playing smart on either end of the court heading into the 12-minute TV timeout.
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Stemler draws a charging foul on Dan Coleman.
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Dan Coleman for UM hits a three, cutting the IU lead to 2, but Bassett responds on the other end to push the lead back to 5.
IU leads 36-31
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Gordon just got hit in the face driving to the basket on the first play of the half, but seems to be O.K. as he heads to the bench.
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An Armon Bassett three is short, giving UM a chance at a final basket. Westbrook gets fouled going to the basket by Ellis. He hits -2 from the line with just 1 second left.
And that's the half. Nevermind - DJ White hits a fade away three from 25-ft after catching a baseball pass from Lance Stemler. IU takes a 31-27 lead into half. White leads IU with 13 points.
IU calls a TO with 30.1 seconds left in the half to set up one last offensive play going into half-time. 21 seconds remain on the shotclock.
IU leads 28-25
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Minn goes on a 6-2 run to cut the lead to 1 on the strength of two three pointers.
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Gordon gets fouled again driving to the basket, sending the game to the 4-minute TV timeout with IU leading 22-18.
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Gordon picks up his second foul of the game away from the ball.
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Gordon gets to the line after an IU steal....the freshman connects on both, giving IU the 22-18 lead.
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IU keeps making mistakes - the latest being Jordan Crawford missing a break-away lay-up.
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At the 16-minute TV timeout, MN as cut IU's lead to 4.
IU leads 20-16@ 7:48
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Nice cross court pass from Gordon to Bassett who hit a three from the corner. IU leads 20-12.
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Westbrook from UM just jumped over the row of fans on the sideline trying to get a ball. It was a good move by the UM player not to hit his head on a rail on the way down.
On the inbounds, Crawford hits a three for the Hoosiers. IU leads 13-7.
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Gordon fouls McKinzie as he is shootig a three before the 16 minute TV time out. During the break, it was announced that IU all-time leading scorer Calbert Cheaney is at the game. He got a nice standing ovation from the crowd.
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Ellis breaks through for the Hoosiers, tying the game at 2.
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Minnesota finally breaks the scoring drought at the 17:49 mark, giving UM the lead.
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Starters for IU: Gordon, Ellis, Bassett, Stemler, D.J. White
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The four seniors - Ahlfeld, Mike White, Stemler and D.J. White - were just recognized in a pre-game ceremony where each player was given a framed jersey. We will be posting updates to the blog during the traditional senior day speeches after the game.
