Behind a stellar performance from guard Devonte Green, Indiana basketball avenged a loss to Arkansas from earlier this season in the NIT’s second round.
With each team missing one of their respective stars and team leaders, Arkansas’ Daniel Gafford sitting out from NIT play after declaring for the draft, and Romeo Langford for the Hoosiers nursing a back injury, yet to play for the Hoosiers in NIT play, it was a rematch of an early season game.
Arkansas led most for most of the first half until Juwan Morgan tied the game up at 25 after making one of two free throws. Then, a Devonte Green three pointer gave Indiana their first lead of the day with three minutes left in the first half.
Despite being down by two at halftime, the Razorbacks got off to a hot start in the second and took back the lead, up as much as six points early on in the second period.
However, strong play from upperclassmen Juwan Morgan, De’Ron Davis, and Devonte Green brought the Hoosiers back and regularly provided points when needed late in the second half.
Devonte Green sunk two free throws with 6.1 seconds left to give the Hoosiers a three point lead, and after Arkansas’ Jalen Harris missed a potential game tying three pointer Indiana came out with the win, 63-60.
Indiana was paced by Devonte Green’s 18 points on an effective 50 percent shooting that included four three pointers and 11 rebounds.
Juwan Morgan also provided an offensive spark as he chipped in 15 points, and De’Ron Davis lead the bench in scoring with 10 points in 21 minutes.
Whether this game’s performance, and the last month’s play, by Devonte Green is indicative of what is to come next season, Hoosier basketball fans can expect to see Green and De’Ron Davis take a larger leadership roles as the will be the only two seniors on a relatively young basketball team.
Indiana will face the winner of the Wichita State-Clemson game on either March 26 or 27 at Assembly Hall with a game time to be announced at a later time.