EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The ol' March mantra is 'survive and advance,' and the UIndy men's basketball team (19-8) did just that on Friday night against Maryville (20-7) at the Vadalabene Center on the campus of Southern Illinois University in the 66-56 win.
 
UIndy led by just four at halftime before Jesse Kempson scored 14 of his 18 in the second half, leading the fourth-seeded Hounds to victory. CJ Hardaway Jr. finished with 11 points and nine rebounds, the most on the team.
 
Overall, the Greyhounds had eight scorers, including the 14-4 advantage from their reserves and 20-18 benefit in the paint. Trevor Lakes drilled a pair of triples off the bench, while Eric Davidson made one himself while going six for six from the charity stripe, including the two with 55 seconds left to seal the win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
A three-pointer by Ajay Lawton after four minutes gave the Hounds the early 7-2 lead, but the Saints scored 14 of the next 21 to gain their first advantage of the game midway through the half. Jabree Bond-Flournoy drilled a wide-open three-ball in the corner with a minute left to erase Maryville's final lead of the game.
 
Kempson potted a three-pointer to pace the 7-2 run the Greyhounds began the second half with, but the Saints responded with nine straight points to even the contest at 39 with 12:29 remaining.
 
The Hounds shot 12 free throws the final two minutes to inch away for good, which was capped with a traditional three-point play by Kempson. The Hounds made their final three free ones to win, 66-56.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
UIndy's 66 points is the second-fewest points the team has scored in a win this season. The Greyhounds tallied 62 in the conference-opening win at Wisconsin-Parkside on November 30.
 
Kempson's 18 points marks the sixth straight game the junior has record double figures, including eight of the past nine. The Indianapolis native is also seven for his last 16 from deep.
 
Hardaway Jr.'s nine rebounds is the fourth time this season the junior has hit that mark, and is now averaging 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds the past two games.
 
The Greyhounds have shored up their defense in the two games against Maryville this season, limiting GLVC Player of the Week to an average of nine points in the pair of Crimson and Grey's wins.
 
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds advance to the GLVC semifinal for the first time since the 2014-15 season. UIndy plays Bellarmine for the third time this season for the right to go to the conference title game. Tip-off with the Knights is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CT at the Vadalabene Center in Edwardsville, Ill.