CHICAGO – For the second straight season, the UIndy men's basketball team kicked off its exhibition slate with a win over an NCAA Division I program from the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).

The Greyhounds downed host Loyola University Chicago, 65-60, on Tuesday evening at Gentile Arena, as Trevor Lakes led all scorers with 20 points (six of 11 from 3-point range). Jimmy King registered 15 points in a game-high 36 minutes, while sophomore Jacob Polakovich finished with seven points and nine boards

Loyola was a 2018 Final Four participant.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The offense complemented the defense on Tuesday night against the Ramblers, as the Greyhounds held the hosts scoreless for the first five minutes of the first half and six minutes after the break.
 
Lakes did what he does best in the early going, drilling four triples in the first nine minutes to boost UIndy to a 14-7 lead. After Loyola inched within one point at 18-17, Polakovich and Demarre Sims provided a spark off the bench before King hit free throws to give UIndy a 35-26 halftime advantage.
 
UIndy kept the momentum alive in the second half, raising its lead to 18 after another Lakes' 3-pointer with just over 12 minutes left. The Ramblers forced the Greyhounds into foul trouble, receiving 14 attempts from the charity stripe to maneuver their way back. However, costly turnovers and a key block by Polakovich with 80 seconds remaining sealed the victory for the Greyhounds.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- UIndy finished 8-of-15 from the free throw line in the win. However, an important 6-for-6 stretch finished off Loyola.
- The Greyhounds shot 9-for-20 from 3-point range, with King (2) and Latham (1) joining Lakes in on the fun from deep.
- Sims' lone bucket was a timely tip-in during the first half. The senior also recorded five rebounds to help the cause.
- Cory Miller Jr. scored seven points in his UIndy debut.
 
MORE NOTES
Former Greyhound Tate Hall scored six points and added three rebounds for Loyola … The victory over the Ramblers is the fourth against an NCAA Division I squad for head coach Stan Gouard ... Loyola has made the postseason in each of the past seasons, advancing to the Final Four in 2018 and the second round of the NIT in 2019.
 
UP NEXT
UIndy will quickly head to Cincinnati, Ohio for its second exhibition contest of the season, as D-I Xavier awaits the Greyhounds. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday night.