Box score

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.-  The University of Indianapolis men's basketball team opened its 2008-09 campaign with a 87-73 exhibition loss against NCAA Division I Tennessee at Thompson-Boling Arena Monday night.  The Greyhounds used a fast start and a solid finish to counterpunch a few UT runs of double digits or more to stay with the talented Volunteers.

Indianapolis ran out of the gate, scoring 11 of the game's first 13 points.  Donald Cloutier knocked down a triple to open the scoring and later hit a long three to stake the Hounds to a 9-2 advantage heading into the first media timeout.  Larry Woods added a pair of free throw makes and the announced crowd of 18,378 was eerily silent.

Tennessee, ranked No. 13 in the preseason polls, used its distinct size advantage to run off 11 straight points  to take a 24-19 lead.  The resilient Hounds scrapped their way back, scoring six straight of their own, capped by a Keith Radcliff transition jumper.  The stretch gave the lead back to UIndy at 25-24 and forced a Vols timeout.

From there, UT scored ten straight points to regain control for good.  Sergey Struck banked in a triple to end the run and Tristan Rogers had a deep three as UIndy hit 5-of-12 (42%) three-point attempts in the opening stanza.  The Vols took their biggest lead of the half at 46-31, where the score stood at the break.

Despite the Vols scoring the first two buckets of the second half, UIndy would not relent.  Woods made an up-and-under bucket in the low post followed by a Tyke Cockerham drive that sliced the lead back to 15.  Cockerham added a finger roll, then later picked the pocket of a UT player and drove the length of the floor, finishing with a reverse layup and the ensuing free throw as the lead dwindled to a dozen.

While the Hounds could get no closer, UIndy did not allow the Volunteers to run away with the game.  The Hounds put together a solid stretch in the closing minutes, shaving a 22-point deficit down to 11.  Cloutier was impressive throughout, hitting on all six of his field goal attempts, including 3-of-3 from long range.  The senior also led the Greyhounds with six rebounds.

Rogers led all scorers with 16 points on 6-of-9 form the floor.  Cockerham added 11 as the Greyhounds had three players in double-figure scoring.

The Greyhounds will play one final exhibition contest, a Thursday night tilt at cross-town IUPUI.  Game time is slated for 7:00 p.m. from the Jungle.

Notes:  Pearl made a special note to the Arena public address announcer to have Gouard introduced as "Superman" Stan Gouard.  Gouard was dubbed Superman back in his playing days under Pearl at Southern Indiana ... All 13 Greyhounds that suited up saw action in the game ... Tennessee did not lose at home last season and has won 32 straight contests at Thompson-Boling Arena.