Wilkerson Phenomenal as Hoosiers Fly Past the Ducks 

  Indiana is 17-8 on the season and takes care of their two game homestand and goes on the road for the next two games and will play at Illinois Next Sunday and Purdue a week from Friday. The Hoosiers are 8-6 in the Big Ten and with their NCAA Tournament hopes alive this was a game that Indiana could not afford to lose.

  Sam Alexis scored 16 points on a perfect 8-8 from the field and pulled down 5 rebounds. Tucker DeVries added 15 points, and Nick Dorn scored 11 points as the Hoosiers put four in double figures. Indiana went 30-50 from the field for 60%, 11-27 from three-point range for 40% and 21-27 from the free throw line for 77%. The Hoosiers pulled down 29 rebounds, dished out 22 assists, 1 block, no steals and 9 turnovers. The Hoosiers scored 30 points in the paint, 7 fastbreak points, 6 points off turnovers, 4 second chance points and 4 bench points.

  Nate Bittle led the Ducks with 15 points and 8 rebounds. The seven-footer returned after missing almost a month with a foot injury as second leading scorer Jackson Shelstad remains out with an injury. Bittle was 3-14 from the field, 1-5 from three-point range and 8-13 form the free throw line and got an earful from the Indiana student section every time he went to the line. Wei Lin scored 15 points off the bench, Sean Stewart scored 12 points, Takai Simpkins added 11 points and Drew Carter scored 10 as the Ducks put five in double figures.

  Oregon went 25-56 from the field for 44%, 7-19 from three-point range for 36% and 17-25 from the free throw line for 68%. The Ducks pulled down 25 rebounds, 17 assists, 5 steals, 0 blocks and 6 turnovers. The Ducks scored 26 points in the paint, 20 bench points, 14 second chance points, 6 points off turnovers and 3 fastbreak points. Oregon is 8-16 overall and 1-12 in the Big Ten as the Ducks have lost 10 in a row.

  Oregon jumped out to a 6-0 start and Indiana responded with a 6-0 run to tie the game 6-6. The game featured 9 lead changes and 2 ties early on as the Hoosiers led 36-30 at halftime. Wilkerson had 16 points in the first half, and he missed his first five shots to start the game but once he got going the Hoosiers got going and it showed in the second half as the Hoosiers outscored the Ducks 56-44 in the second half.

  Indiana leads the all-time series 4-2 as this was the first time that Oregon visited Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall and it was just the second time the Hoosiers and Ducks have played in the Hoosier State after last year’s meeting in the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis.

  Oregon Head Coach Dana Altman and Indiana Head Coach Darian DeVries have had a longstanding relationship as Altman was the head coach at Creighton when DeVries became a Grad Assistant for Altman in 1998. DeVries spoke at Big Ten Media Days in October and credited Altman for the start of his coaching journey. “Who knows how it goes,” DeVries said, “if he doesn’t give me that start.” DeVries added I felt honored to be on the sideline with him and it is a special moment to share that with him.”

  Indiana honored its 1975-76 Undefeated team that finished 32-0 and are the last undefeated team in Division 1 Men’s Basketball and Coach DeVries started the post-game press conference giving that group that had several players in the building their credit and was happy that they were back and it was special night and that Bob Knight will be honored with a bronze statue in the South Lobby of Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. For the Hoosiers they did what they needed to go and now get a break before two tough road games that will challenge this team down the stretch.