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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – In its final preseason tune-up, the UIndy men's basketball team battled Purdue in a 80-73 exhibition loss at Mackey Arena Wednesday night.  Sophomore Joe Lawson scored a team-high 17 points while adding eight rebounds, five steals and a pair of blocks.
 
After out-rebounding Notre Dame Monday, the Greyhounds' work on the glass again showed up in the stats, matching the bigger Boilermakers, 43-43, in rebounds.  They also out-shot Purdue in field goal accuracy, 45 percent to 39.

Lawson led four Greyhounds in double figures, as seniors Tyrae Robinson and Reece Cheatham both tallied 15 points and Leland Brown added 12.
 
UIndy set the pace in the earlier going, both on the scoreboard and with the speed of play.  After the Boilermakers led 2-1, the Hounds raced in front and stayed there for the majority of up-and-down first half.
 
With Purdue settling for jump shots, the Greyhounds used effective dribble penetration, especially from Robinson, to get good looks.  UIndy earned its largest lead – a 30-22 advantage – with 6:12 to go in the first half before the Boilers finished the half on a 19-4 run to take control.
 
Lawson was a big part of the first-half success, sparking the Hounds with eight points, four boards and three steals off the bench in the first 20 minutes.
 
Facing a 41-34 deficit at the half, UIndy continued to give its Big Ten foe all it could handle.  The Greyhounds fell dwon by 12 until holding the Boilers to just five points during one six-minute stretch to pull within four with 11:21 to go.
 
Purdue delivered a crushing blow with 13 unanswered points to build a cushion.  But despite the margin climbing to a game-high 17, the tenacious Greyhounds came clawing back.
 
Inside the five-minute mark, a 3-pointer from Cheatham and a conventional three-point play from Robinson helped cut it to six, but UIndy would get no closer.
 
The Hounds' didn't do itself anyt favors at the free throw line, shooting only 54 percent (14-for-26) from the stripe.  However, Brown bucked the trend by nailing 8-of-9 freebies.
 
Meanwhile, junior Brennan McElroy led the Greyhounds with nine boards and six assists. 
 
The Greyhounds have a week and a half to prepare for their opener versus Cincinnati Christian Saturday, Nov. 9.  Tip time from Nicoson Hall is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
 
Notes:  The Greyhounds shot 14-for-30 (.467) from the floor and out-rebounded Purdue, 22-20, in the first half … UIndy last battled Purdue in exhibition on Nov. 2, 2010.  The Boilers, who were ranked No. 8 at the time, defeated UIndy, 82-59.