Box score

INDIANAPOLIS-  T.J. Smith's off-balance jumper with 1.8 to play gave visiting Kentucky Wesleyan a 66-64 Great Lakes Valley Conference win in men's basketball action Thursday night at Nicoson Hall.  Smith's heroics helped KWC clinch a GLVC tournament berth and simultaneously put UIndy's postseason chances in peril with three games remaining.

UIndy (9-15, 4-11 GLVC) got out to a 10-6 lead but the visitors battled to tie it on five different occasions and the lead changed hands five times in the opening 12 minutes.  With KWC clinging to a slim two-point lead, the Greyhounds ran-off 14 consecutive points, started by eight straight from Keith Radcliff and ending on consecutive layups by Larry Woods, Devin Williams and Tyke Cockerham. 

The Panthers responded with nine of the half's final 11 points to go into the locker room at halftime down just 34-30. 

UIndy held the lead in the second half until the 12:14 mark when Smith stole a pass and jammed it home on the other end to give KWC a 43-42 lead.  Two triples from Radcliff and another from Donald Cloutier kept the Panthers at bay.  With the score 64-60 in favor of KWC, Cloutier connected on a pair of free throws with 2:37 to play.  On the other end, the Hounds forced a turnover to get the ball back with a chance to tie or retake the lead.

Radcliff's jumper was off the mark but Braxton Mills saved the possession with a 15-foot jumper to tie the score with 1:18 left.  Chris Williams missed a layup right under the basket and Mills snagged the defensive board with 57 seconds to play.  Radcliff drove the lane but Lorenzo Williams was there to reject the shot, giving KWC the chance at the final shot.

Smith, who scored 18 of his game-high 24 in the second half, burned most of the clock until making his move and firing in the winner with 1.8 left.  Cockerham's desparation heave from midcourt sailed wide left and the Panthers escaped with the win.

Smith finished the night with 24 points and nine rebounds with 16 points and nine boards coming from teammate Andree' Wilson.  Radcliff's 16 led all Greyhounds and Cockerham added 14 in the loss.

The Greyhounds will head to No. 22 Bellarmine Saturday.  Tip time is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Eastern.

Notes:  Radcliff was 4-for-7 from three-point range Thursday to give him 101 career triples ... That total ranks 13th all-time at UIndy.