CINCINNATI, Ohio – After topping D-I Loyola Chicago last night on the road, the UIndy men's basketball team hit the road again Wednesday night, facing another D-I opponent in Xavier. The Musketeers enter the season No. 19 in the AP Top 25 poll. After leading by only one at the half, Xavier pulled away late in the second half to win, 64-52.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Xavier jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead before Jordache Mavunga buried his first three of the night. Mavunga's three would spark the Greyhounds as well as himself. After scoring his team's first points to make it 4-3 in favor of the Musketeers, Mavunga would also give the Hounds their first lead after another triple, making it 8-7. UIndy and Xavier battled back-and-forth throughout the first half with the Hounds' biggest lead being four points as the No. 19 Musketeers took a single point lead into the locker room at half.
 
The beginning of the second half started much like how the first half went with both teams trading blows and going back-and-forth with the lead. Marcus Latham got going early in the second half for UIndy, finishing with seven points on the night in 16 minutes of action. Midway through the second half, Xavier slowly started to pull away from the Greyhounds, spouting off an 8-0 run. The Musketeers would keep gradually building their lead over the Hounds, leading by as much as 16 at one point. The Greyhounds brought in some reserves late to get them some playing time down the stretch as Xavier held on to win, 64-52.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-Jordache Mavunga played the role of energizer for the Greyhounds, finishing with a double-double of 13 points and 10 boards. The senior from Brownsburg had three double-doubles last year in his first season with UIndy.
-Three players came off the bench to log double-digit minutes Wednesday night. Jacob Polakovich and Miles Wayer each finished with six points off the bench.
-After only shooting 50% from the free throw line in the first half, UIndy came back in the second half to only miss one of their nine attempts from the stripe to finish with a 70% night at the line.
 
UP NEXT
UIndy will play one more game this week before starting the regular season next week. Their next trip will be much shorter than their last two as they travel just 12 miles north to Butler to face the Bulldogs at Hinkle Fieldhouse Friday night at 7 pm.