Indiana came into Friday night looking for a big bounce-back conference win, and the Hoosiers jumped out to a significant lead to start the game. IU struggled to get going early on in games this season, and it capitalized on many of Maryland’s mistakes in the first half.
The Terrapins wouldn’t go away, though and they clutched onto an eight-point deficit going into halftime. In the second half, they used a 16-0 run to take down Indiana in an eventual 78-75 win. The Hoosiers failed to score efficiently when it mattered most, and Maryland handed them their second-straight loss.
Freshman guard Rob Phinisee played a limited role tonight in his first game back from a concussion while Devonte Green started.
Let’s get into some takeaways from tonight.
Hoosiers start fast
Indiana jumped out to a 17-4 lead within the first seven minutes of the game, and it never looked back. Junior guard Devonte Green led the charge, scoring six of the first 17 points for the Hoosiers. By the end of the first half, Green’s total ran up to 10, shooting 3-5 from the field. The company surrounding Green was giving consistent support, contrasting to recent performances.
Indiana shot 56 percent from the field as a team, and its scoring efficiency overwhelmed Maryland for the majority of the half. Although the Terrapins shrunk the Hoosier lead down to eight going into the break, Indiana ensured that its early lead would not go to waste. It was one of the most complete first-half performances as any for Indiana this season.
Romeo delivers a quietly good performance
Overshadowed by Maryland’s second-half comeback and the impressive showings of Anthony Cowan and Bruno Fernando, IU freshman guard Romeo Langford had himself another solid performance. Langford finished the game with 28 points, shooting 8-13 from the field and adding two rebounds and three assists. He hit two big buckets within the last minute to keep Indiana’s hopes of winning alive.
The freshman guard continues to impress this season, and he scored over 15 points for the fifth straight game.
Tale of two halves
Indiana had built a comfortable 35-27 lead going into halftime, but saw it evaporate during a 16-0 run by Maryland in the second half. The Hoosiers couldn’t find an answer for Anthony Cowan and Bruno Fernando, who combined for 49 points. Indiana’s bench couldn’t get anything going throughout the night, scoring just two combined points on the night. No other Hoosier scored in double digits besides Langford, and it was just an overall bad scoring night.
