What is known as the easiest shot in basketball can be downright costly - if you miss it.
The Hoosiers found that out against Purdue Thursday when it missed the front end of three one-and-one free-throw situations in the final four minutes of play.
IU led 69-68 with 3:51 left on the clock before freshmen Jordan Hulls and Derek Elston each missed shots from the line.
Junior guard Verdell Jones followed with another miss, capping a string of shots that could have resulted in as many as six points.
"Certainly the free-throw shooting hurt us," IU coach Tom Crean said. "Nobody goes to the line to miss fouls shots - especially the guys that went there."
Purdue went on a 7-0 run while IU failed to make good on its three opportunities from the line.
And while IU faltered at the line, Purdue capitalized.
The Boilermakers were 15-of-20 shooting at the free-throw line in the second half alone. They hit 20 for the game, and Robbie Hummel and JaJuan Johnson buried 16 of those.
But the Boilermakers did leave a bit of light for the Hoosiers when Hummel missed a late free throw that kept the game within one possession and gave IU a final shot.
"Robbie Hummel didn't go up there late to miss," Crean said of Purdue's free throws. "He's a 90 percent shooter."
Jones' final shot from outside nearly sent the contest into overtime.
The Hoosiers challenged the No. 8 Boilermakers for 40 minutes. But in the end of the day, they lost.
And Crean said his team is no longer interested in moral victories.
