Balanced attack leads Hoosiers over Iowa
By CALEB LYNN (@Cjlynn016)
ISL Contributor
(Photo by DraftExpress.)
BLOOMINGTON — In their Big Ten home opener, the Indiana Hoosiers (5-4, 1-1) were able to grind out a solid win against Iowa with a final score of 77-64.
After a strong first half, it was a game of big runs in the second. Indiana withstood an early 16-2 run by Iowa with an 18-0 run of their own in the second half to break the game open.
Leadership was shown by IU throughout the game by Junior Juwan Morgan and fifth year senior Collin Hartman. Morgan put together a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Hartman finished with 13 points and five rebounds.
For Juwan Morgan, this was his fifth straight game in double-figures and his second double-double. His teammate Hartman is noticing the improvements Morgan made from last year.
“I think he is playing with a lot more confidence,” Hartman said. “And he’s relentless on the boards. When you play with that confidence and you are relentless, it’s hard to deny.”
Morgan added: “I’m trying to get other teammates open. If they are getting open looks, I always think it is a miss—Just getting on the glass creates the opportunities for me.”
🎥 Highlights from tonight's Big Ten win over Iowa, with 4️⃣ players in double figures pic.twitter.com/QKiQUPZyqf
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) December 5, 2017
Indiana Coach Archie Miller was complimentary of Morgan’s performance as well: “He’s rebounding the ball better than I ever anticipated,” Miller said. “That’s a pleasant surprise.”
De’Ron Davis made his presence known in the paint with 13 points and six rebounds. His teammates looked for him throughout the game and he delivered when he needed to.
Juwan Morgan sees Davis’s improvements on the floor. “When his body changes, his game changed,” Morgan said. “And the moves he has on the block are second to none, except probably me.”
Devonte Green put in a great night off the bench with 12 points and 50% shooting. He also had a career high in assists with four. His teammates took notice of his immediate impact.
Collin Hartman mentioned Green being a spark plug. “He’s very explosive and he can do some crazy things.”
Coach Miller felt pretty good about the overall effort of the game: “I was pleased for the most part, other than the lack of response out of halftime,” he said. “We ended up digging ourselves out of that hole and were able to finish the game off.”
Indiana has now won five of the last six games against the Hawkeyes. Next up for the Hoosiers- a non-conference battle with the Louisville Cardinals on the road Saturday December 9th.
