Box Score

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The UIndy men's basketball team started its 2013-14 campaign with a 95-69 exhibition loss at ACC-newbie Norte Dame Monday night.  The Greyhounds out-rebounded the bigger Irish squad, but the home team shot 56 percent from the field to come away with the win.
 
Three Greyhounds finished in double figures, led by Reece Cheatham's 14 points.  The Pike High School grad added in six rebounds and five assists, while Quinten Hunter scored 11 points and Leland Brown chipped in 10 points and eight boards.
 
After Cheatham hit a deep 3-pointer for the first bucket of the game, it took nearly 12 minutes for the Irish to seize control.
 
"I really liked the first 10 minutes," said head coach Stan Gouard.  "I thought we did a good job making hustle plays and our effort was pretty good in that first 10 minutes."
 
UIndy hit 10 of its first 17 field goal attempts (.588) and led 23-22, but Notre Dame, ranked 22nd in the ESPN/USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll, ran off nine unanswered points and finished the half on a 26-5 run to build a 20-point advantage at the break.
 
In the second half, the Hounds trimmed the deficit to 13 on a couple of occasions until another Irish rally widen the margin once again.  One of Hunter's three triples cut it to a baker's dozen early in the second, but UIndy managed only two field goals over the next six-and-a-half minutes.
 
Ultimately, the Irish outscored the Greyhounds by just six points in the second half, and though the midway margin proved too much, Gouard particularly liked his team's work on the glass.
 
"We rebounded the ball well," noted the sixth-year head man.  "One of the things we talked about during the game was not giving up second shots.  We out-rebounded them 40-36, and they only had seven offensive rebounds, which is great."
 
Continued Gouard: "You play these kinds of games so you can learn about some of the things you have to work on going forward; we got a chance to see some of our new guys and what they can do, and our returning guys with their leadership skills.

"We have a ways to go, but I like the direction we're headed."
 
Coming up Wednesday, UIndy battles another in-state power in Purdue in its final tune-up before its regular-season opener Nov. 9.  Tip time from Mackey Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.