Indiana signed on for two more years of the Crossroads Classic this week. It’s a move, coach Tom Crean said, that changes some non-conference scheduling.“We’re going to play a neutral game in Indianapolis.WEST LAFAYETTE – Remy Abell spotted up in the left corner.
The Indiana freshman guard received a pass from Christian Watford and then calmly made a three-pointer.
That’s one way to make an introduction into one of college basketball’s top rivalries.
Abell’s basket, with 1:27 remaining, sealed the Hoosiers’ 78-61 victory over Purdue in front of 15,108 fans Saturday at Mackey Arena.
Abell scored a career-high 13 points off the bench to help the No. 20 Hoosiers snap a five-game losing streak in the series.
“I just wanted to come in and step up,” Abell said. “When I’m on the bench, I’m always ready so when coach calls my name, I’m ready to come in and make an impact.”
Victor Oladipo scored a career-high 23 points as IU won at Mackey Arena for the first time since 2006. Cody Zeller scored 16 points, and Jordan Hulls had 10 points.
Will Sheehey finished with seven points and three blocks, the most important one coming when Lewis Jackson was going for a layup that would have cut the deficit to two with 2:17 to go.
“Our guys did an excellent job of understanding if you’re going to beat a really good team on the road, you have to have great resolve, you have to have toughness, you have to get to the foul line,” IU coach Tom Crean said, “You’ve got to have a rebounding mindset (IU had 53 rebounds to Purdue’s 35) and you’ve got to communicate. And I’m proud of the way they played.”
Abell had to step up as one of the replacements for guard Verdell Jones III. The senior did not play as he recovers from a shoulder injury.
“There’s a lot of things that go into being a guard, a point-guard type player and it’s even more when you’re a freshman. You have to understand how you play and understand what everyone else needs, and you’ve got to play on both ends and he did that,” Crean said of Abell. “He’s getting better and better with that all the time.”
Indiana (18-6, 6-6 Big Ten) recovered from a slow start. The Hoosiers shot 32.4 percent in the first half on 11 of 34 from the field but improved to 57.1 percent in the second half (12 of 21).
The Boilermakers never got into a rhythm. Purdue shot 29.6 percent for the game (21 of 71).
“To me, it looked like it meant more to them, right from the start,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “They deserved to win the game. They were tougher than us, they were quicker to the basketball.”
Robbie Hummel led the Boilermakers (15-8, 5-5) with 16 points and 10 rebounds. D.J. Byrd finished with 15 points. Kelsey Barlow scored 12 points.
Purdue missed its first 11 three-point shots and finished 5 of 21 on three-pointers. IU was 3 of 10, with none bigger than Abell’s.
“He made a big-time play,” Hummel said. “Hat’s off to him.”
