ROLLA, Mo. – Looking to build on its first winning streak since December, the UIndy men's basketball team (16-7, 10-5 GLVC) earned a victory over conference-for Missouri S&T, 97-85. It is the fourth-highest point total the Greyhounds have scored this season. The Miners drop to 2-21 and remain winless in conference action with the loss.
 
On his second field-goal attempt of the night, senior Eric Davidson became the 40th member of the 1,000-point club in program history. The Fishers native is the first Greyhound since Jordan Loyd in 2016 to be etched in UIndy history.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hounds opened up an 8-2 lead, including an opening-possession three pointer by Ajay Lawton. Just over five minutes into the contest, Davidson drilled his second deep ball to surpass 1,000 career points, and to give UIndy a 16-4 advantage. The Greyhounds stretched their lead to 15 at the 12-minute mark before the Miners used a 21-8 run in just over five minutes to get within two.
 
UIndy halted the S&T rally with Tate Hall scoring five of his 16 first-half tallies in the final 3:50 of the half. Lawton and Jesse Kempson capped a 7-0 stretch to end the half, as the Hounds led 50-41 at the break.
 
Building on 60 percent shooting in the opening frame, the Greyhounds made 54 percent of their attempts in the second half to hold off the Miners. UIndy scored the first 12 points after intermission to build a 21-point lead, with each starter contributing to the outburst.
 
The advantage grew to as many as 22 after a Lawton free throw, and a Kempson three pointer held the Greyhound lead at 19 with just eight minutes left. Davidson scored all eight of his second-half points in the final 4:10 of the contest, including a perfect six-for-six mark from the free-throw line. The Miners got within single digits with under two minutes left, but Hardaway Jr. and Davidson scored the final three from the charity stripe to finish with the 12-point win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Eric Davidson became the fourth player in the last decade to surpass 1,000 career points in the Crimson and Grey. The senior needs just 63 points in the final three regular-season games, including post-season play to earn a spot in the top 30. The guard is just 24 points away from passing over two-year teammate Joe Lawton, who wrapped up his UIndy career in 2015.
 
Tate Hall also had a night to remember, pouring in a career-high 27 points and pulling down a career-best 12 rebounds. It is the sixth time this season the sophomore has scored 20 or more points in a game, and the first time since January 20 against Drury. The Greenfield native has reached double figures in each of the past 12 games, dating back to the beginning of the spring semester.
 
After taking a two-game hiatus from double-digit points, CJ Hardaway Jr. put 15 in the scoring column, while grabbing nine rebounds, the third time the junior transfer has totaled nine. Hardaway Jr. reached 10 boards back on November 15 against Kentucky State.
 
The Greyhounds shot 55.8 percent from the floor on the night, the fourth time in the past 11 games UIndy has made over half of its field-goal attempts. The team's nine-for-18 finish from behind the arc comes after the Hounds shot a near season-low 18.8 percent from three-point range.
 
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds continue the road trip on Saturday in Liberty, Mo. against William Jewell College. The Cardinals earned a huge victory over Southern Indiana on Thursday, defeating the Eagles, 94-81. The Hounds and Cardinals currently sit in fourth and eighth place in the GLVC, respectively.