Box Score • Box Score (HTML)
INDIANAPOLIS – The No. 15 UIndy men's basketball team forced 18 turnovers to defeat Lewis, 71-64, at Nicoson Hall on Thursday night.
The Greyhounds (15-3, 7-3 GLVC) finished with eight steals against the Flyers (11-7, 5-5 GLVC), who ranked 13th in the country in turnovers with just 11.2 per game entering the contest. UIndy's was able to convert to the tune of 23 points, while the Hounds' 12 turnovers resulted in just seven points for the visitors.
Reece Cheatham scored 15 points in the second half to finish with a game-high 21 points, while
Tyrae Robinson added 13 points and four assists.
James Hollowell scored 12 points with four rebounds and three steals, while
Brennan McElroy had career highs of 12 rebounds and five assists to go along with nine points.
UIndy shot 15-of-26 (.577) in the second half, including 6-of-12 from behind the arc, and 7-of-8 at the free throw line, but Lewis was able to keep things interesting by shooting 56 percent (14-25) and making 12-of-12 free throws in the second half. The Flyers were, however, 0-of-2 from distance in the second and 2-of-6 for the game. UIndy finished shooting 49 percent (27-55) overall and 40 percent (8-20) behind the arc.
The Greyhounds appeared to be in control with 8:39 remaining after Cheatham fed Robinson for a three-pointer after an offensive rebound to stretch the lead to 14, 52-38. The Flyers came back with an 8-0 run and eventually closed within three, 61-58, with 2:27 remaining.
UIndy answered on the next possession as Cheatham drove and lofted a floater in, but Lewis came back and hit two free throws after an offensive rebound with 1:35 to play, 63-60.
The Greyhounds were able to burn 33 seconds off the shot clock the next possession as Robinson drove baseline and found a cutting McElroy for a lay-up with two seconds on the shot and 1:02 to play. UIndy fouled again and Lewis made two more from the stripe to keep it a one-possession game and stuck with full-court pressure. This time, the Hounds scored quickly.
Leland Brown had his only assist of the game as he threw the long pass ahead to a streaking McElroy for the dunk.
Robinson came up with a steal on the defensive end and made both free throws after being fouled to push the lead to seven, 69-62, with 34 seconds to play and ice the game.
UIndy led the entire game after scoring the first seven points, but Lewis would never let the hosts lead by more than eight in the first half.
Quinten Hunter's three-pointer that bounced around the rim before falling with 38 seconds put UIndy up by four at the break, 28-24.
The Greyhounds head back on the road for their next three beginning on Saturday with a meeting against GLVC East Division co-leader Wisconsin-Parkside (13-5, 8-2 GLVC) at 4 p.m. The Rangers defeated No. 3 Kentucky Wesleyan and No. 10 Southern Indiana last week at DeSimone Gymnasium.