Spokesman-Review
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Indiana 75, North Carolina Central 56
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Where: Assembly Hall, Bloomington, Indiana
Officials: # Dan Chrisman, # Tim Clougherty, # Wally Rutecki
Attendance: 17164

INDIANA 75, NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL 56: Cody Zeller had a team-high 17 points and seven rebounds as No. 24 Indiana closed out its non-conference schedule with an easy victory at home.

Indiana (21-7, 8-7 Big Ten) improved to 16-1 at home and 13-0 in non-conference play. The Hoosiers, who are fifth in the Big Ten standings - 1 1/2 games behind Wisconsin - will resume conference play Saturday against Minnesota.

The top four teams in the standings will receive a first-round bye in the conference tournament.

Victor Oladipo finished with 16 points for Indiana, which led by as many as 15 before taking a 39-26 lead into halftime. Then the Hoosiers clamped down defensively, holding the Eagles (14-13, 8-5 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) to two baskets over the first 11 minutes of the second half before taking a 61-37 lead.

Will Sheehey scored 12 points and Derek Elston added 10 for the Hoosiers, who shot 51 percent from the field and were 4 of 10 from 3-point range.

Dominique Sutton, North Carolina Central’s leading scorer, finished with a game-high 21 points and Ray Willis added 10 for the Eagles, who lost for the second time in its last seven games.

The Eagles fell to 0-27 since 2007-08 against major-conference schools, including 0-3 against Indiana.

GAME NOTEBOOK:
Indiana finished with 16 turnovers. … The Hoosiers held a 34-16 advantage in rebounds, including 15-3 on the offensive glass. … North Carolina Central finished 3 for 10 from 3-point range. … Indiana won for the fourth time in five games.
Top Game Performances
 
North Carolina Central   Indiana
Dominique Sutton 21 Scoring Cody Zeller 17
Emanuel Chapman 2 Assists Derek Elston 2
Jeremy Ingram 4 Rebounds Will Sheehey 7
Jeremy Ingram 6 Free Throws Made Verdell Jones III 5
Dominique Sutton 4 Steals Christian Watford 3
Ray Willis 2 Blocks Victor Oladipo 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
North Carolina Central 56 47.6 3-10 13-19 9 16 5 9 15
Indiana 75 51.0 4-10 19-25 13 34 2 7 16