Field Level Media
Nov 23, 2021
Xavier Johnson finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, lifting unbeaten Indiana to a 70-35 victory over winless Jackson State on Monday in Bloomington, Ind.
Miller Kopp added 12 points for the Hoosiers (5-0), and Trayce Jackson-Davis had 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Indiana once again won with defense, holding Jackson State (0-5) to 20.7 percent shooting from the floor. Gabe Watson was Jackson State's lone scorer in double figures with 14 points.
The Hoosiers hit 47.1 percent of their field-goal attempts, including 40 percent (6 of 15) from 3-point range. Indiana wound up with a 44-33 rebounding advantage.
Johnson and Kopp each scored eight points in the first half, helping the Hoosiers take a 34-17 lead into the break.
Indiana went on a 11-0 run, holding Jackson State scoreless for a 5:28 stretch, to go up 26-9 on a Kopp jumper. But Jackson State answered with a 6-0 run, cutting the Hoosiers' lead to 26-15 on jumper by Chris Freeman with 4:05 left in the half.
Indiana led 29-15 after a Parker Stewart 3-pointer coming out of a timeout, and the hosts closed the half on an 8-2 lead. Kopp was fouled on a transition 3-point attempt with 0.7 seconds left in the half and made all three free throws, giving the Hoosiers a 17-point halftime edge.
Indiana, which entered the game leading the nation in opponents' field-goal percentage at 30.3 percent, held Jackson State to 19.2 percent shooting in the first half. For the fourth time in five games, the Hoosiers held an opponent to 20 points or fewer in the first half.
The Hoosiers then put the game away with a 13-0 run. Kopp sank a 3-pointer to put Indiana up 39-17, then a Stewart 3-pointer extended the margin to 47-17 with 15:26 left.
Indiana played its second straight game without guard Rob Phinisee, who sat out due to a leg injury.
--Field Level Media