ST. LOUIS – The New Year has seemingly brought new resolution for the UIndy men's basketball team, who locked down on defense to earn a 64-57 win at Missouri-St. Louis Thursday night in the Mark Twain Building.
In their first Great Lakes Valley Conference win of the year, the Greyhounds (4-7, 1-2 GLVC) held the Tritons (8-6, 2-2) to a meager 25 second-half points, including just one point – a trivial late free throw – across the final 4:21.
"Our attitude changed coming back from break," Head Coach
Stan Gouard told WICR afterward. The ninth-year head man is now 9-1 all-time against UMSL.
"Tonight was really a must-win for us, but we had to play well to beat them. Holding them to 25 points in the second half is huge."
Gouard's Hounds entered Thursday allowing over 82 points per game and an almost 50 percent field goal percentage to their opposition, ranking near the bottom of the GLVC in both categories. UMSL's 57 points and mere 32 percent (17-54) shooting were both good for season lows among UIndy opponents.
Not to mention the two Hounds who took over the offensive burden in the second half. Redshirt-junior
Ajay Lawton and sophomore
Jesse Kempson combined to score 30 of UIndy's 37 points in the final period.
After trailing 32-27 at the half, UIndy played from behind for much of the second half. The Tritons led by as many as nine points, but Hounds – namely Lawton – continued to chip away at the deficit.
Eventually, on the heels of a 13-3 run, the Greyhounds regained the lead for good when Kempson sank a 3-pointer to make it 58-56 with less than three minutes on the clock.
That bucket was part of remarkable five-plus minute stretch from the Circle City native. Kempson scored 13 of UIndy's 15 points from the 7:24 mark until 1:49, ultimately finishing the game with 17 points, five rebounds, two assists and a career-high five blocks.
Lawton totaled a career-best 21 points, 17 of which came in the second half. The 6-foot guard went 8 of 10 from the charity stripe, adding two rebounds, one steal and an assist.
"(Ajay) was settling for jump shots early on," Gouard noted. "But in the second half he did a good job of putting his head down, getting to the paint and getting to the free throw line."
Employing their sixth different starting lineup this season, it took some time for the Greyhounds to find an offensive rhythm. UIndy went just 3 for 12 from long range in the first period and 11 for 29 (38 percent) overall. UMSL also capitalized with a +10 advantage at the free throw line.
UIndy turned that around in the second, attempting 20 free throw attempts after just four in the first period. The Hounds also upped their shooting clip to 44 percent (10-23) while out-rebounding the Tritons 21-18.
The Hounds will look to keep the ball rolling Saturday, facing the Maryville Saints (6-9, 1-3) at 4 p.m. in Maloney Arena.
