Verdell Jones III has been through the ups and downs at Indiana. He was part of a team that won six games during Tom Crean’s first season in 2008-09.IOWA CITY, Iowa – Indiana committed 20 turnovers and was outscored in the paint 26-18 as it lost for the 10th straight time.
Sophomore Matt Gatens scored 25 points and Iowa beat the reeling Hoosiers 73-57 Sunday to snap a three-game losing streak.
Indiana’s Verdell Jones III had 22 points against Iowa, which usually lives and dies with the three-pointer. Although the Hawkeyes shot only 3 of 17 from beyond the arc, it didn’t matter against the struggling Hoosiers.
Indiana hit a couple quick baskets out of the break to pull within 32-27. They then went ice-cold, hitting just one field goal over the next seven minutes, and Jarryd Cole’s rebound and layup off a missed free throw put Iowa ahead 45-30 with 12:24 left.
“We don’t have a large margin for error right now, and Iowa capitalized on it,” Indiana coach Tom Crean said.
Christian Watford had 13 points and seven rebounds and Devan Dumes had 11 points off the bench for the Hoosiers (9-19, 3-13 Big Ten), who had only four assists against 20 turnovers.
Aaron Fuller added 17 points for the Hawkeyes (10-19, 4-12), who never trailed in closing out their home schedule with a .500 record.
Indiana got off to another rough start, an all-too familiar occurrence of late.
The Hoosiers scored only four points in the opening 10:52, allowing Iowa to jump ahead 17-4 behind nine quick points from Fuller
“We got to most of the loose balls. We were active, we were in tune, we were helping one another,” Iowa coach Todd Lickliter said.
.
Cully Payne had 13 points for the Hawkeyes, who have posted two of their four conference wins over the Hoosiers. Iowa pounded Indiana 58-43 Jan. 24 for its only league road win.
