INDIANAPOLIS – A change in environment had little effect on the UIndy men's basketball team, as the Greyhounds won their fifth in a row, 98-75, against in-state rival Saint Joseph's inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse Monday night.
Despite the unfamiliar settings, the Hounds (8-7, 5-2 GLVC) followed a similar script as their recent blowouts against Missouri S&T and Drury: overwhelm the opponent early and build an insurmountable advantage.
The Greyhounds jumped on the Pumas, using high efficiency on both ends of the floor to build a considerable 20-point advantage by the midway point of the first half.
On one side, UIndy sank 10 of its first 14 shots, thanks to six team assists. On the other, the Hounds clamped down and held the Pumas to a 4-for-15 start (0 of 5 from 3-point range).
"We defended. We were excited about it," Head Coach
Stan Gouard told WICR, following the win. "I was really proud of our guys for stepping up to that challenge tonight."
As usual, it was juniors
Alex Etherington and
Eric Davidson who provided the early offense, each reaching double figures within the first 12 minutes of game time.
UIndy carried a 55-35 lead into the break, scorching the Pumas by hitting 19 of 33 overall (57.5%) and 6 of 10 from deep. Saint Joseph's, meanwhile, connected on just 30% from the field (9-30) and only 2 of 12 from long range.
"I like the fact that in the first half we held (Saint Joseph's) to thirty percent from the field," Gouard noted. "They made nine field goals in the first half, so a lot of credit goes to our defense."
Already maintaining a 20-point lead, the Hounds opened the second period on a 15-1 run, putting to rest any doubt in the final outcome.
Etherington and redshirt-junior
Ajay Lawton led the Hounds with 19 apiece, and Davidson followed closely with 18.
Sophomore
Jimmy King had a stellar game, totaling 14 points and six rebounds to go with a career-high-tying six assists. His classmate,
Jesse Kempson, finished with 13 points, six boards and three blocks.
As a team, the Greyhounds finished above 50 percent from the floor for the third consecutive game, going 35 of 67 (52.2%). UIndy also hit 9 of 17 triples Monday, and has now hit 43 of 80 (53.7%) over the last three games.
UIndy finished the night with 16 assists on its 35 field goals, a stat which Gouard alluded to after the game.
"We share the basketball better than any team I've had thus far, and that's fun to coach. These guys are excited about seeing the next guy make a play."
After playing three games in five days, the Hounds have a short week before traveling west to meet McKendree in Lebanon, Ill., this Thursday for an 8:30 p.m. ET tip.
