Hoosiers start new era by holding off Eastern Michigan 68-62
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) Trayce Jackson-Davis enjoyed having the fans back inside Indiana's home arena Tuesday night.
He thought they made a difference, too.
The preseason All-American scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, helping Indiana withstand Eastern Michigan's frantic second-half rally to hold on for a 68-62 victory.
''I know dang near half of our team had never experienced an Assembly Hall crowd before,'' he said. ''They really helped us and I think got them (the Eagles) out of their rhythm, too.''
Indiana has won 22 of its last 23 season openers and led this one from start to finish, giving new coach Mike Woodson a win in his first college game after spending the last quarter-century on NBA benches.
For 25 minutes, it looked like the Hoosiers would cruise behind a dominant defense. But after extending the lead to 48-28 with 14:21 to go, things started going awry.
Eastern Michigan scored the next nine points, trimming the deficit to 11. Then Noah Farrakhan started making perimeter shots and when he knocked down a short jumper 2:46 left, capping a 16-3 spurt, Indiana's lead shrunk to 59-58.
''Finally when we start playing a lot better, moving the ball, sharing it, getting better shots that's what ignited our comeback,'' first-year coach Stan Heath said after his debut. ''We showed that we're going to fight and compete and I'm happy with that.''
But after struggling at the the free-throw line in the closing minutes, Indiana made just enough to prevent Eastern Michigan from taking the lead.
Farrakhan made three 3-pointers and finished with 18 points. Bryce McBride added 12.
''It's good to be back home and the fan base here is like no other fan base,'' Woodson said. ''They stay in the game all the way from the beginning to the end and that's helpful for our young team as we grow.''
BIG PICTURE
Eastern Michigan: The second-half was a promising sign for an Eagles offense that had struggled . It took nearly 7 1/2 minutes for Eastern Michigan to score its first points. But they overcame the poor shooting and costly turnovers to make it a contest. The next task is correcting the mistakes that put them in the deep hole.
Indiana: With three new starters, a revamped roster and new philosophies at both ends of the floor, this looked like a completely different team. Yes, the Hoosiers need more offensive consistency to close out wins. But they played tight, strong defense most of the night and that proved to be the difference.
STAT PACK
Eastern Michigan: Colin Golson Jr. had nine points and eight rebounds. Nate Scott added 10 rebounds. ... The Eagles battled to a near draw in rebounds, trailing just 43-42. ... Eastern Michigan is 0-5 in the all-time series. ... The Eagles are 14-30 when playing their opener on the road.
Indiana: Xavier Johnson scored 14 points in his Hoosiers debut. Race Thompson had five points and 10 rebounds. ... The Hoosiers committed just eight turnovers. ... Indiana forced a shot-clock violation on its first defensive possession and also forced a five-second call in the first half. ... The Hoosiers started their 50th season of play inside Assembly Hall on Tuesday. Former coach Bob Knight won the first game in the building, defeating Ball Sate 84-77 on Dec. 1, 1971.
BOOKEND RETURN
Heath is starting his second coaching stint as a Mid-American Conference coach and in an odd twist, he opened his tenure at his alma mater against the same opponent he closed the first chapter. In 2002, Heath led Kent State to the Elite Eight before losing to an Indiana squad that fell to Maryland in the national championship game. Heath was a backup point guard for the Eagles from 1983-87.
UP NEXT
Eastern Michigan: Plays its home opener against Illinois State on Friday.
Indiana: Hosts another Mid-American foe, Northern Illinois, Friday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Axel Okongo vs. Trayce Jackson-Davis (Hoosiers gains possession) | |||
19:38 | Trayce Jackson-Davis misses two point layup | |||
19:36 | Axel Okongo defensive rebound | |||
19:10 | Colin Golson Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
19:08 | Eagles offensive rebound | |||
19:08 | Eagles turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
18:46 | Darion Spottsville blocks Parker Stewart's two point jump shot | |||
18:44 | Colin Golson Jr. defensive rebound | |||
18:37 | Noah Farrakhan misses three point jump shot | |||
18:35 | Race Thompson defensive rebound | |||
18:28 | +3 | Parker Stewart makes three point jump shot (Xavier Johnson assists) | 0-3 | |
18:17 | Noah Farrakhan turnover (lost ball) (Parker Stewart steals) | |||
18:09 | Miller Kopp misses three point jump shot | |||
18:07 | Xavier Johnson offensive rebound | |||
17:59 | +3 | Parker Stewart makes three point jump shot (Trayce Jackson-Davis assists) | 0-6 | |
17:43 | Colin Golson Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
17:41 | Race Thompson defensive rebound | |||
17:24 | +2 | Trayce Jackson-Davis makes two point layup (Xavier Johnson assists) | 0-8 | |
17:23 | Eagles 30 second timeout | |||
17:03 | Darion Spottsville turnover (lost ball) | |||
16:52 | Race Thompson misses three point jump shot | |||
16:50 | Monty Scott defensive rebound | |||
16:25 | Monty Scott misses two point jump shot | |||
16:23 | Xavier Johnson defensive rebound | |||
16:19 | Xavier Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Darion Spottsville steals) | |||
16:00 | Noah Farrakhan misses two point jump shot | |||
15:58 | Race Thompson defensive rebound | |||
15:47 | Xavier Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Noah Farrakhan steals) | |||
15:39 | Race Thompson blocks Colin Golson Jr.'s two point layup | |||
15:37 | Race Thompson defensive rebound | |||
15:33 | TV timeout | |||
15:29 | Parker Stewart misses three point jump shot | |||
15:27 | Axel Okongo defensive rebound | |||
15:19 | Monty Scott misses three point jump shot | |||
15:17 | Miller Kopp defensive rebound | |||
15:02 | Xavier Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Monty Scott steals) | |||
14:52 | Race Thompson blocks Noah Farrakhan's two point jump shot | |||
14:50 | Race Thompson defensive rebound | |||
14:34 | +2 | Trayce Jackson-Davis makes two point jump shot | 0-10 | |
14:19 | Nate Scott misses three point jump shot | |||
14:17 | Trayce Jackson-Davis defensive rebound | |||
14:16 | Axel Okongo personal foul (Trayce Jackson-Davis draws the foul) | |||
14:04 | Parker Stewart misses three point jump shot | |||
14:02 | Nate Scott defensive rebound | |||
13:52 | Noah Farrakhan misses two point jump shot | |||
13:50 | Miller Kopp defensive rebound | |||
13:37 | Rob Phinisee turnover (bad pass) | |||
13:25 | Race Thompson personal foul (Noah Farrakhan draws the foul) | |||
13:25 | Eagles turnover (5-second violation) | |||
13:12 | Trayce Jackson-Davis misses two point layup | |||
13:10 | Darion Spottsville defensive rebound | |||
13:03 | Thomas Binelli misses three point jump shot | |||
13:01 | Jordan Geronimo defensive rebound | |||
12:48 | Tamar Bates misses three point jump shot | |||
12:46 | Darion Spottsville defensive rebound | |||
12:39 | +2 | Darion Spottsville makes two point layup | 2-10 | |
12:37 | Parker Stewart shooting foul (Darion Spottsville draws the foul) | |||
12:39 | Darion Spottsville misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
12:39 | Trayce Jackson-Davis defensive rebound | |||
12:12 | Thomas Binelli blocks Rob Phinisee's two point layup | |||
12:10 | Eagles defensive rebound | |||
11:54 | Darion Spottsville misses two point jump shot | |||
11:52 | Trayce Jackson-Davis defensive rebound | |||
11:39 | +2 | Jordan Geronimo makes two point alley-oop dunk (Trayce Jackson-Davis assists) | 2-12 | |
11:19 | Colin Golson Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
11:17 | Trey Galloway defensive rebound | |||
11:12 | Trey Galloway turnover (bad pass) (Thomas Binelli steals) | |||
11:04 | +2 | Monty Scott makes two point layup | 4-12 | |
10:50 | Trayce Jackson-Davis misses two point layup | |||
10:48 | Colin Golson Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:40 | +3 | Thomas Binelli makes three point jump shot (Monty Scott assists) | 7-12 | |
10:26 | Jordan Geronimo misses three point jump shot | |||
10:24 | Darion Spottsville defensive rebound | |||
10:11 | +3 | Colin Golson Jr. makes three point jump shot (Monty Scott assists) | 10-12 | |
9:55 | Colin Golson Jr. blocks Rob Phinisee's two point dunk | |||
9:53 | Hoosiers offensive rebound | |||
9:54 | TV timeout | |||
9:52 | +2 | Tamar Bates makes two point jump shot (Trey Galloway assists) | 10-14 | |
9:32 | Monty Scott misses two point jump shot | |||
9:30 | Jordan Geronimo defensive rebound | |||
9:13 | +2 | Rob Phinisee makes two point jump shot | 10-16 | |
9:01 | Colin Golson Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
8:59 | Tamar Bates defensive rebound | |||
8:34 | +2 | Tamar Bates makes two point layup | 10-18 | |
8:18 | Axel Okongo offensive foul (Tamar Bates draws the foul) | |||
8:18 | Axel Okongo turnover | |||
8:05 | Rob Phinisee misses three point jump shot | |||
8:03 | Darion Spottsville defensive rebound | |||
7:49 | Noah Farrakhan misses three point jump shot | |||
7:47 | Colin Golson Jr. offensive rebound | |||
7:44 | Colin Golson Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
7:42 | Race Thompson defensive rebound | |||
7:35 | +3 | Rob Phinisee makes three point jump shot (Race Thompson assists) | 10-21 | |
7:20 | Noah Farrakhan turnover (traveling) | |||
7:20 | TV timeout | |||
7:01 | Jordan Geronimo misses three point jump shot | |||
6:59 | Darion Spottsville defensive rebound | |||
6:52 | +3 | Thomas Binelli makes three point jump shot (Darion Spottsville assists) | 13-21 | |
6:38 | Hoosiers 30 second timeout | |||
6:28 | +2 | Trayce Jackson-Davis makes two point layup | 13-23 | |
6:14 | Thomas Binelli misses three point jump shot | |||
6:12 | Trayce Jackson-Davis defensive rebound | |||
5:50 | +2 | Race Thompson makes two point hook shot | 13-25 | |
5:34 | Nate Scott misses two point jump shot | |||
5:32 | Trey Galloway defensive rebound | |||
5:25 | Trey Galloway turnover (bad pass) (Thomas Binelli steals) | |||
5:16 | Thomas Binelli misses three point jump shot | |||
5:14 | Race Thompson defensive rebound | |||
4:56 | +3 | Xavier Johnson makes three point jump shot (Rob Phinisee assists) | 13-28 | |
4:25 | Race Thompson shooting foul (Bryce McBride draws the foul) | |||
4:25 | +1 | Bryce McBride makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 14-28 | |
4:25 | +1 | Bryce McBride makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-28 | |
4:11 | Axel Okongo personal foul (Trayce Jackson-Davis draws the foul) | |||
4:02 | Noah Farrakhan shooting foul (Xavier Johnson draws the foul) | |||
4:02 | +1 | Xavier Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-29 | |
4:02 | +1 | Xavier Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-30 | |
4:02 | Trayce Jackson-Davis blocks Noah Farrakhan's two point layup | |||
4:00 | Eagles offensive rebound | |||
3:52 | TV timeout | |||
3:40 | Colin Golson Jr. turnover (traveling) | |||
3:25 | +2 | Rob Phinisee makes two point jump shot | 15-32 | |
2:59 | Thomas Binelli misses two point jump shot | |||
2:57 | Trayce Jackson-Davis defensive rebound | |||
2:51 | Rob Phinisee misses three point jump shot | |||
2:49 | Trayce Jackson-Davis offensive rebound | |||
2:45 | Trayce Jackson-Davis misses two point layup | |||
2:43 | Darion Spottsville defensive rebound | |||
2:37 | Bryce McBride misses two point layup | |||
2:35 | Colin Golson Jr. offensive rebound | |||
2:30 | +2 | Colin Golson Jr. makes two point layup | 17-32 | |
2:01 | Xavier Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
1:59 | Nate Scott defensive rebound | |||
1:45 | +2 | Colin Golson Jr. makes two point jump shot | 19-32 | |
1:16 | Bryce McBride shooting foul (Xavier Johnson draws the foul) | |||
1:16 | Xavier Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
1:16 | +1 | Xavier Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-33 | |
1:01 | Xavier Johnson personal foul (Noah Farrakhan draws the foul) | |||
1:00 | Trey Galloway personal foul (Bryce McBride draws the foul) | |||
0:57 | Trey Galloway personal foul (Noah Farrakhan draws the foul) | |||
0:51 | Trayce Jackson-Davis blocks Colin Golson Jr.'s two point jump shot | |||
0:49 | Trayce Jackson-Davis defensive rebound | |||
0:49 | Colin Golson Jr. personal foul (Trayce Jackson-Davis draws the foul) | |||
0:40 | Xavier Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
0:38 | Nate Scott defensive rebound | |||
0:30 | Nate Scott turnover (traveling) | |||
0:01 | +2 | Miller Kopp makes two point jump shot | 19-35 | |
0:01 | Darion Spottsville shooting foul (Miller Kopp draws the foul) | |||
0:01 | +1 | Miller Kopp makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 19-36 | |
0:00 | End of period |