Indiana 89, Maryland 70

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — After holding a slim halftime lead, No. 23 Indiana rode improved shooting to an 89-70 victory over the No. 13 Maryland on Thursday at Assembly Hall.

The Terrapins (17-3, 5-2 Big Ten) entered the game leading the conference in field-goal defense, but the Hoosiers got hot after the break. Indiana (15-4, 5-1) shot 72 percent in the second half and finished the game shooting at a 60 percent clip.

Maryland shot 50.9 percent from the floor, including 10-for-20 accuracy from 3-point range.

Five Indiana players made 3-pointers, and the Hoosiers shot 15-for-22 (68.2 percent) from behind the arc on the night.

Hoosiers guard Yogi Ferrell, after failing to score in double digits in back-to-back games, found his stroke Thursday night. He shot 7-for-8 from behind the arc and 8-for-10 overall to lead Indiana with 24 points. Indiana guard James Blackmon Jr. added 22 points on 8-for-14 shooting, and forward Troy Williams scored 16 points.

Ferrell also drew the assignment of guarding Maryland’s leading scorer, guard Melo Trimble. A freshman who has lit up defenses all season, Trimble entered the game averaging 16.1 points per game, but couldn’t find a rhythm against the Hoosiers. He faced foul trouble early in the second half and was limited to 10 points.

Forward Jake Layman led Maryland in scoring with 13 points, but he scored just two points after halftime. Terrapins guard Jared Nickens added 12 points.

Indiana forward Collin Hartman had a career game, reaching his career high in points before the end of the first half. He finished with 15 points.

Indiana got off to a blistering start but cooled off as the half moved along. The Hoosiers hit their first four shots, including three 3-pointers, to build a 12-3 lead in the opening minutes.

The Hoosiers made just one of their next six shots as Maryland fought back into the game. Indiana’s lead dwindled, as the Terrapins tied the game once midway through the half and entered the locker room trailing only 38-35.

Layman scored a game-high 11 first-half points, with four coming off steals and easy baskets on the other end. Hartman and

Hartman and Williams led Indiana with 10 first-half points apiece.

NOTES: Indiana is ranked in the AP poll for the first time since the end of the 2012-13 season. … Maryland’s 5-1 start to Big Ten play was its best conference start since a 6-1 run to begin the 2002-03 ACC season. … Indiana G Yogi Ferrell made a 3-pointer in his 49th consecutive game, a program record. … Maryland’s sole national championship came with a win over Indiana in the 2002 title game.