Indiana began the season with 12 consecutive victories.But coach Tom Crean said IU is a better team now than they were after capturing that 12th straight victory Dec. 22 against Maryland-Baltimore County.The No.Verdell Jones III scored 22 points as Indiana defeated Pittsburgh 74-64 in the most impressive win of the Tom Crean era.
Christian Watford added 16 points for the Hoosiers, who held off a late surge by the Panthers to improve to 4-4. The win is the 200th for Crean in his coaching career.
IU led by 18 points with less than three minutes to go. The Panthers rallied to cut the Hoosiers’ lead to six in the final minute. But Indiana made free throws down the stretch to hold on at Madison Square Garden.
Derek Elston scored nine points while Maurice Creek had eight points and eight rebounds.
The Panthers are known for their physical play. But the Hoosiers dominated in the paint to pull off the upset in the nightcap of the 15th annual Jimmy V Classic.
Indiana made more free throws (25) than Pittsburgh attempted (17).
Asthon Gibbs had 25 points to lead the Panthers (7-2), and Brad Wanamaker added 18 points. Pittsburgh shot 32 percent from the field.
IU led 33-29 at halftime and 35-34 with 17:26 to go in the second half.
That’s when the Hoosiers went on a 13-2 run.
Verdell Jones III had six points during the stretch. Jones and Derek Elson started the spurt with layups. Jones followed Jeremiah Rivers’ layup with two free throws. The Panthers called a timeout after a Jones’ basket with 12:16 left.
The next time down the floor, Devan Dumes made a three-pointer to give Indiana a 48-37 lead.
IU took its 18-point lead, at 67-49, after two Watford free throws with 2:58 to go.
Pittsburgh then went on an 11-1 run.
Gibbs made two three-pointers and Dwight Miller also hit a pointer to cut the deficit to eight, at 68-60, with 1:45 left.
Jones stopped the bleeding with a jumper.
The Panthers scored four consecutive points to get within 70-64 with 58 seconds to go.
Jones and Bobby Capobianco hit free throws to ice the game.
