UIndy Greyhounds (6-2) vs. Olivet Nazarene Tigers (6-2)
Saturday, Dec. 12, 1 pm ET, Nicoson Hall
live stats | audio | video | game notes

OPENING TIP
Prior to a lengthy holiday break, the UIndy Greyhounds welcome Olivet Nazarene to Nicoson Hall for a 1 p.m. tip Saturday Dec. 12. The game will be broadcasted on the GLVC Sports Network (video) and on 88.7 WICR (radio).
 
ABOUT THE TIGERS
Olivet Nazarene comes to the Circle City 6-2 overall, ranked No. 9 in the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll. The Tigers are led by long-time coach Ralph Hodge (37th season), the third-winningest active coach in NAIA Division II and member of the NAIA Hall of Fame (2013). As a player and coach, Hodge has been a part of 1,334 of the 1,533 games in Olivet Nazarene program history.
 
The Tigers most recently faced another GLVC opponent in Lewis, falling 83-67 Wednesday evening. Prior to the loss against the Flyers, ONU had won five games in a row.
 
Senior Aaron Larson has been the Tigers' MVP thus far, averaging 23.6 points and 9.5 rebounds while twice being named Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week. Zach Wagner (12.3 ppg), Leke Solanke (11.3) and Tyler Crater (10) each average double figures for ONU, as well.
 
GREYHOUNDS VS. TIGERS
UIndy and Olivet Nazarene have faced each other four times, but haven't met since Dec. 20, 1997, when the Tigers defeated the Greyhounds 79-69 in Nicoson Hall. The schools have split the four games evenly at two games apiece, including UIndy wins in 1971 (124-94) and 1979 (77-73).
 
LAST TIME OUT
UIndy is coming off a perfect 2-0 start to the Great Lakes Valley Conference season, having won 90-79 against Wisconsin-Parkside (Dec. 3) and 84-70 versus Lewis (Dec. 5).
 
In last Thursday's win over the Rangers, the Hounds' frontcourt duo of Jordan Loyd and Lucas Barker combined to score 50 points, shooting 17 of 30 (.556) from the floor and a perfect 10 for 10 from the charity stripe. UIndy newcomer Ernest Maize finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, recording the second double-double for the Hounds this season.
 
Saturday, UIndy shot the lights out in the first half, sinking a remarkable 11 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes and leading by as many as 28 at one point. Although the Flyers attempted a comeback in the second half, the Hounds' margin was insurmountable as they went on to win by double figures. Joe Retic had 17 points, eight assists and five rebounds, while Eric Davidson totaled 17 points and a career-best 6 for 6 mark at the foul line.
 
Complete game recaps and box scores can be found on pages 17 and 18 of the game notes.
 
STARTING STRONG
UIndy is one of six GLVC teams to go 2-0 during the "appetizer portion" of the conference slate, joining No. 23 Bellarmine, Southern Indiana, Drury, Missouri S&T and Quincy. The Greyhounds faced arguably the toughest start to the conference season among the 16 schools, one of only two teams* to open with two squads that competed in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

* Saint Joseph's, UIndy's travel partner, also faced the Rangers and Flyers
 
During the opening week of league play the Hounds ranked near the top of the pile in scoring offense (T-2nd), scoring margin (T-4th), free throw percentage (1st), 3-point percentage (4th), assists (T-4th), blocks (T-1st), steals (T-3rd) and turnover margin (2nd).

MUCH IN THE CLUTCH
Not only do the Greyhounds lead the GLVC and rank sixth nationally in free throw percentage (.788), but they have been able to see that efficiency increase during crunch time. Over the last five minutes of regulation, UIndy is a combined 46 for 52 (.884) at the foul line. Loyd leads all players with 14 makes on 15 tries, while Retic has the best percentage thanks to a 12-for-12 mark.
 
A complete breakdown of the Greyhounds' free throw shooting in the final five minutes of regulation can be found on page 14. 
 
WE'RE GOING STREAKING
After a 1-2 start to the 2015-16 campaign the Greyhounds are currently enjoying a five-game win streak, during which they have outscored opponents by 13.4 points per game. One notable improvement has been the 3-point shooting, as UIndy is hitting 45 percent (52-115) during the streak after just a 29 percent (20-70) clip in the opening three games. The Hounds are also averaging nearly five more assists per game as a team during the five-game run.
 
RIGHT WHERE THEY WANT 'EM
During their first three games of the season the Greyhounds led for only 20:45 of total game time, not leading for 10-plus minutes in any game while going 1-2 overall. Since - during the five-game win streak - UIndy has led by at least 23 minutes in every contest. The Hounds have led for 1:50:54 of a possible 2:00:00 over the last three games, roughly 36 minutes per game.
 
IF IT AIN'T BROKE...
The Hounds are now 5-1 when starting Lucas Barker, Joe Retic, Jordan Loyd, Alex Etherington and Jamel Crocker.
 
WHAT A PLUS
Greyhound newcomer Ernest Maize has seen increased minutes in recent games, and for good reason. He recorded a plus/minus of +41 in roughly 50 minutes of game time this past week against Wisconsin-Parkside and Lewis, leading all UIndy players. Barker's +39 in just over 72 minutes on-court was the only other Greyhound to reach a plus/minus over +21.
 
I GOT A REALLY BIG TEAM
UIndy's bench is averaging 29.2 points per game, as opposed to the opponents' 16.9 average from reserve players.
 
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
After starting with four of the first six games on the road, UIndy is amid a six-game homestand that lasts through the holidays and into the new year. The Hounds are 2-0 on the stretch, defeating Wisconsin-Parkside and Lewis last week. They next welcome NAIA-members Olivet Nazarene (Dec. 12) and Governors State (Jan. 2) before resuming GLVC action against Maryville (Jan. 7) and Missouri-St. Louis (Jan. 9).
 
HITTING THE CENTURY MARK
The University of Indianapolis men's basketball program officially turns 100 years old this season, celebrating the Greyhounds' inaugural 1915-16 season. In honor of hitting the monumental mark, each game preview will feature a men's basketball historical fun fact.

Under Head Coach Stan Gouard (8th season), the Greyhounds have been ranked or receiving votes in the NABC poll 52 total weeks. Prior to his tenure, the Hounds were recognized only 16 times in the polls.