Box score
INDIANAPOLIS- DeAndre Brock, the defending Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week, came up with a huge steal and the ensuing layup to help host Indianapolis fend off in-state rival Franklin College, 80-74 Monday night at Nicoson Hall. The Hounds scored the game's final seven points to remain perfect on the season at 4-0 overall.
The game was all UIndy in the early going as the Hounds scored the first 14 points of the contest and forced misses on all of the Grizzlies' first nine attempts. FC (2-2) finally broke through with just over five minutes gone on a three-pointer from Jon Neill, one of 11 triples for Franklin on the night.
The Greyhound lead mounted to as many as 18 with the UIndy offense clicking on all cylinders. 18 of the Hounds' first 20 points came on layups and Tyke Cockerham's fastbreak conversion of a turnover made the score 33-15 with 5:21 to play in the first half.
The Hounds got 28 of their 42 first-half points in the paint en route to a 16-point cushion at the break, 42-26. In the opening period, UIndy connected on 16-of-24 (.667) shots compared to 9-of-26 (.346) for the visitors.
The second half would be a different story as the relentless Grizzlies began to heat up offensively. With the score 46-28 in favor of UIndy, Franklin went on a 20-6 run to close the gap to just four. A Tristan Rogers dunk midway through the half seemed to quell the momentum swing, but unfazed, the Grizzlies scored on their next two possessions, trimming the advantage to a single point, 56-55.
The Greyhounds worked the ball to Braxton Mills underneath on consecutive touches to help regain a seven-point lead but with the lead never fully in control, Franklin took advantage. A layup by Dustin Marshall made it 73-71, followed by a three-pointer from Jace Redman to give FC its first lead at 74-73.
It would prove to be the Grizzlies' last, however, as free throws helped decide the contest. Rogers' free throw makes with :29 left pushed the lead back to three points at 77-74. On the next possession, Brock iced the game with his steal and subsequent fastbreak bucket and free throw for the winning margin, 80-74.
Four different Greyhounds scored in double figures led by 21 from Brock. Rogers and Cockerham each added 14 while Mills poured in a dozen on 6-of-6 shooting in a solid all-around effort. The junior also corralled a game-high eight rebounds and five strals in the contest.
UIndy (4-0) continues its homestand by opening GLVC play this coming Thursday when Missouri-St. Louis visits Nicoson Hall. Game time is slated for 7:30 p.m.
Notes: The game was the 114th meeting all-time between the schools, most by an opponent vs. Indianapolis ... the Hounds led the all-time series 70-44 ... Cockerham and Mills have combined to go 25-for-27 (.926) from the floor in the team's two home games ... UIndy's last 4-0 start came back in 2003-04, when the Hounds won their first 12 games.
