Our goaltending is the reason why weve been doing well all year

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- When Indiana tipped off its regular season home opener, it looked like the sixth-ranked Hoosiers returned from Honolulu empty-handed.Just five days removed from defeating then-No. 3 Kansas in the Armed Forces Classic, Indiana started Wednesday nights game flat on offense, slow on defense, and for much of the first 10 minutes, played mediocre basketball. The Hoosiers looked tired, searching for the momentum that carried them past Kansas.When youre coming off a great win like we had, you think the (next) game is going to be easier, but its not, Indiana coach Tom Crean said, adding that it felt like his team hit a wall.James Blackmon Jr. got Indiana (2-0) over that wall. Blackmon Jr. made five 3-pointers, scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds in a 100-78 victory over UMass Lowell.The River Hawks led three times during the first 10 minutes and by as many as five points. But with 8:24 remaining, Indiana found its niche behind the savvy scoring of Blackmon, who had 20 points in the first half.Indiana outscored UMass Lowell (1-2) 32-15 during the final 8 minutes of the first half. The Hoosiers went into halftime having shot 60 percent from the field (21 of 35). Once Indiana returned true to form, resembling the same team that kicked off the season with a big win in Hawaii, the Hoosiers dominated for the remainder of the game. The Hoosiers had an assists on 23 field goals.Big men OG Anunoby and Thomas Bryant contributed to Indianas onslaught. Anunoby scored 15 points and Bryant added nine and the two combined for nine rebounds. The Hoosiers outrebounded UMass Lowell 46-24. Of the 46 rebounds, 19 were on the offensive end, leading to 15 second-chance points.Crean praised his squad for establishing physicality and speed, rather than attempting to establish their jump shots, or an offensive presence. And in doing so, it led to a defensive effort that contributed largely to the turning point of the game. Robert Johnson echoed his coachs sentiments.I think it all starts on defense, Johnson said. Once we get stops, defensive rebounds, we can get out in transition and play.Johnson scored 16 points, grabbed five rebounds and had five assists for Indiana. The Hoosiers led by as many as 29 points half way through the second half.Jahad Thomas finished with 16 points and Tyler Livingston had 14 for the River Hawks.Despite the 22-point loss, UMass Lowell coach Pat Duquette found very little to be disappointed about.I dont think we were too affected by the atmosphere. We dont play in arenas like this. We dont play in front of a crowd like this. I was happy that our guys didnt get distracted by that and stuck to the game plan, Duquette said. For us to score 78 points against a really talented Indiana team on their home court, thats a great sign. I think they are a legitimate top five team.BIG PICTURE: Indiana will have three more games to build on the big win over Kansas. The Hoosiers next three games are against mid-majors before they host North Carolina on Nov. 30. The Hoosiers other notable non-conference game comes on Dec. 17 when they face Butler at Bankers Life Fieldhouse before kicking off Big Ten Conference play against Nebraska on Dec. 28. Indianas final non-conference game is a showdown with No. 12 Louisville at Bankers Life on New Years Eve.CENTURY CLUB: With Indianas 103-99 win over Kansas and its 100-78 beat down of UMass Lowell, the Hoosiers scored 100 points in consecutive games for the first time since 2005. Wednesdays game marked the first time Indiana opened the season with back-to-back games with at least 100 points since 1992-93.TURNING POINTS: With 8:24 to play in the first half, Indiana opened a 14-2 run that would give the Hoosiers a comfortable halftime lead. And with 17 minutes left in the second half, the Hoosiers ignited an 18-2 run that ultimately put the game out of reach.UP NEXT:UMass Lowell travels to IPFW on Saturday.Indiana hosts Liberty on Saturday. Adidas Ultra Boost 3.0 Suomi . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. Yeezy Kengät . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. http://www.yeezysuomi.com/suomi-yeezy-boost-350.html .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. Adidas Ultra Boost 4.0 Suomi . Anthony Davis had 31 points and 17 rebounds in his seventh straight game with more than 20 points, but that was only enough to keep the Pelicans competitive into the final minutes. Andrew Bogut had 10 points and 15 rebounds for Golden State, which rebounded from a loss a night earlier in Oklahoma City and snapped a two-game skid. Yeezy Suomi . Pettersen, winner of last years Evian Championships, had nine birdies and three bogeys, holding off a series of challengers led by Marion Ricordeau of France. The second-ranked Norwegian made her season debut after missing the LPGA Tours opening event last month in the Bahamas because of a shoulder injury. The Circus Trip is living up to its name for the Chicago Blackhawks.Coming off its most thrilling win this season, Chicago seeks its third consecutive victory Monday night when it visits the Edmonton Oilers, who will try to build off a career milestone from 19-year-old captain Connor McDavid.When the circus comes to Chicagos United Center every November, it forces both the Blackhawks and the NBAs Bulls on extended road trips. Rogers Place will be the fourth stop on a seven-game trek for the Blackhawks (13-4-2), who head to California after this contest.First, they look for their 10th win in the past 11 against the Oilers -- including five of six in Edmonton. Over the past 10 matchups, the Blackhawks have scored 41 goals while allowing only 21.If the Blackhawks are to continue their success against the Oilers, then they must do so on the heels of an improbable 4-3 overtime win Saturday over the Vancouver Canucks. With Chicago down 3-0 in the third period, Artemi Panarin, Vinnie Hinostroza and Ryan Hartman scored before Marian Hossa tallied the game-winner in the final minute of the extra session after an apparent overtime goal was overturned.Hossa also broke a 2-2 tie with 2:23 to play Friday night, lifting Chicago to a 3-2 win over the Calgary Flames. In 10 games this month, Hossa has eight goals -- including three game-winners -- and two assists.Hossa continues to do what hes been doing all year; hes been scoring some huge goals for us. Biggest one weve scored all year, Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said after Saturdays win.Hossa, who turns 38 on Jan. 12, leads the team with 11 goals, and he has notched two goals and six assists in a four-game points streak in Edmonton. That includes an overtime marker that lifted Chicago to a 4-3 win on Nov. 18, 2015.Though he has faced Edmonton only three times and taken just nine shots, Panarin -- who beat out McDavid for the 2016 Calder Trophy as the top rookie -- has four goals and three assists.After Scott Darling started against the Canucks, Corey Crawford will likely be back in goal for Chicago on Monday. Crawford has allowed just nine goals in his past four road games, winning threee of those contests.dddddddddddd He is 4-1-0 with a 2.32 goals-against average over five career starts in Edmonton.Our goaltending is the reason why weve been doing well all year, said Quenneville, whose team has opened up a five-point lead over the St. Louis Blues in the Central Division.After being a league doormat in recent season, the Oilers (10-8-1) have been at or near the top of the Pacific Division for much of this season, but it has been a roller coaster ride.They are currently in a tie with the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks for the top spot.Edmonton got off to a 7-1-0 start before coming back to Earth with a 3-7-1 stretch that included a five-game losing streak.That was snapped Saturday night when McDavids first career hat trick helped the Oilers to a 5-2 win over the Dallas Stars.Three pretty lucky goals, McDavid said. Its a funny league that works that way. You get grade-A chances and theyre not going in, then you start putting it there and they are going in. Its weird that way. Definitely happy to get off that slump.McDavid leads Edmonton with eight goals and 14 assists through 19 games, but he has failed to score a goal in four consecutive home games. This also is McDavids first chance to face the Blackhawks -- a broken collarbone as a rookie last season limited the top overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft to 45 games.Edmonton coach Todd McLellan said the Oilers shouldnt get overly excited about the win at Dallas.We still have a lot of work to do, McLellan said. Frustrating in some areas of the game, but we cant over-evaluate a win right now. Well take it any way we can get it. Reload and get back home.Edmonton has managed just three goals while dropping three straight in its new arena to fall to 4-4-0 at home. The Oilers have also scored only two power-play goals in 25 chances at Rogers Place so far.Goaltender Cam Talbot has never faced the Blackhawks while with Edmonton. As a member of the New York Rangers, Talbot went 1-1-0 with a 1.01 GAA and .968 save percentage against Chicago. ' ' '