INDIANAPOLIS – A late 20-4 run from the UIndy men's basketball team helped the Greyhounds sprint past visiting Olivet Nazarene Saturday, 89-65, in Nicoson Hall, moving their win streak to six games.
The Tigers (6-3) came to Indianapolis ranked No. 9 in the latest NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, but couldn't keep up with the Hounds down the stretch of what turned into a one-sided decision.
UIndy (7-2) got 26 points from senior
Jordan Loyd, 18 of which came in the second half. The Hounds' leading scorer had 11 points during the 20-4 push that widened the margin, and tied a career high with five 3-pointers.
"He stopped settling," Head Coach
Stan Gouard said, when asked what the difference was for Loyd in the second half. "He was never in rhythm in the first half. He got to the foul line in the second half, got some layups, and once that started happening he got himself going. We went small to try a play a little faster, and I think that benefitted him."
The Greyhounds also pressured ONU defensively to the tune of 12 steals and 21 Tiger turnovers, resulting in a 29-4 points-off-turnovers advantage. Senior
Joe Retic recorded a season-high five steals, followed by
Lucas Barker's three.
The two sides battled fairly evenly for the first 35 minutes of action, prior to the late surge, as ONU routinely answered UIndy's runs. The Tigers knocked down four 3-pointers and shot over 41 percent (12-29) in the opening half, trailing 45-34 at the break.
UIndy had six players with six or more points in the opening period, and did much of its damage with a 16-for-17 output at the foul line.
The Tigers used a 6-0 spurt to start second half, pulling right back to within five at 45-40. A few possessions later ONU big man Leke Solanke laid in a bucket to cap another 6-0 run, making it 52-48 with 13:44 remaining.
But it was the closest the Tigers would be the rest of the way, as the Hounds outscored their guests 37 to 17 from that point forward. When Loyd drained a step-back 3-pointer with 4:08 left the rout was all but complete.
UIndy finished a stellar 24 of 25 from the free throw line with eight different contributors.
The Crimson and Grey entered Saturday getting nearly 30 points per game from the bench, but got 43 from reserves against ONU.
Following Loyd in the scoring column was sophomore
Eric Davidson, who totaled 16 points behind four 3-pointers. Junior
Ernest Maize finished with 14 and six rebounds, while senior
Tyler Rambo netted 11 points to go along with six boards.
"I was really happy to see
Tyler Rambo get himself going," Gouard noted. "He was one guy coming into the season that we thought was going to be a key to our basketball team."
UIndy is off until Jan. 2, when it welcomes another NAIA school Governors State to Nicoson Hall for a 3:15 p.m. tip.
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