Indiana Hoosiers vs Connecticut Huskies Box Score on Dec 10, 2019

Junior center Joey Brunk and junior guard Al Durham each scored nine points and Indiana forced 22 turnovers to beat Connecticut 57-54 at the Jimmy V Classic in Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The Hoosiers (9-1) bounced back from a 20-point loss at Wisconsin with a spirited defensive effort. Indiana held Connecticut to 41.2 percent shooting from the floor and had 10 steals.

Forward Josh Carlton led Connecticut (6-3) with 18 points. Tyler Polley added 12 points for the Huskies and freshman center Akok Akok had nine points, five rebounds and five blocked shots.

Sophomore point guard Rob Phinisee, back after missing four games with various injuries, provided a spark off the bench for the Hoosiers with six points and two assists. Phinisee came up with a big play late, hustling for an offensive rebound and drawing a foul with 21.4 seconds left. Phinisee then made both free throws to put Indiana up 56-51.

A 3-pointer by Connecticut guard Alterique Gilbert cut Indiana's lead to 56-54 with 14.3 seconds left. With 9.2 seconds left, Indiana senior guard Devonte Green was fouled and made one of two free throws to put Indiana up 57-54, then stole the ball from Connecticut guard Christian Vital with 2.3 seconds left to allow the Hoosiers to escape with the win.

Akok was a force inside defensively early, blocking four shots in 13 minutes in the first half. Connecticut jumped ahead 15-6 early after an Akok 3-pointer, and went up 26-16 on a Vital jumper with 5:17 left in the first half.

But with Akok off the floor in the final 4:57 of the second half after picking up his second foul, Indiana closed the half on an 18-3 run to go up 34-29 at halftime. A driving layup by Indiana freshman guard Armaan Franklin off a turnover cut Connecticut's lead to 26-22. Justin Smith then hit a 3-pointer to cut Connecticut's lead to 27-26 with 3:08 left in the first half. The Hoosiers then went up 30-27 on a 3-pointer by Green with 1:56 remaining.

Indiana scored 12 points off 13 Connecticut turnovers in the first half.

--Field Level Media