INDIANAPOLIS – For the second straight season, the UIndy men's basketball team (16-6, 9-3 GLVC) stifled No. 3 Bellarmine (18-3, 9-3 GLVC) inside Nicoson Hall, 78-69, to win its first game over a ranked opponent this season.
 
The victory is the first over a top-three team in the country for the Greyhounds since January 16, 2014 when UIndy toppled Bellarmine at Knights Hall, 81-79.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hounds never looked back once their grabbed the lead with 51 seconds remaining in the first half after a free throw from CJ Hardaway. UIndy led the entire second half, leading by as many 14 midway through the final period.
 
UIndy answered the call each time Bellarmine built momentum, including a layup by Jordache Mavunga with under 10 minutes left once the Knights got inside single digits. A jumper by Hardaway stretched the lead back to 13, but a 12-2 run by Bellarmine with under four minutes left made the deficit just three points.
 
Free throws and defensive stops won it in the end for the Greyhounds, sinking 11-of-12 from the charity stripe in the second half, including an eight-for-eight mark in the final two minutes. The Hounds held the Knights to just two points the final 2:07 to wrap up the victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Trailing by as many as eight late in the first half, the Greyhounds promptly went on a 13-0 run over the next 5:05 to grab the lead they would never surrender. UIndy has now led Bellarmine in the second half at Nicoson Hall over the last 31 minutes, dating back to last season's victory over the Knights.
 
After not scoring more than 11 points the past three contests, senior CJ Hardaway poured in 19 on Saturday night to lead the Greyhounds to victory. The Indianapolis product also went six-of-seven from the charity stripe, playing an integral part down the stretch.
 
Jimmy King made five-of-seven from the field against Bellarmine after a poor shooting night on Thursday. The junior point guard finished with 14 points, while dishing out eight assists and recording five rebounds.
 
The Greyhounds received a huge game off the bench from Jordache Mavunga, who scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds in 24 minutes of action. The junior connected on his first two three-point attempts after entering the game just two minutes prior.
 
Trevor Lakes scored another 15 points in the win, including three-of-seven from beyond the arc. The sophomore has drained 22 of his last 50 three-point tries, good for 44 percent from deep.
 
The Greyhounds forced 17 turnovers in the win, the second most this season that the Knights have committed.
 
HOUND BYTES
Head coach Stan Gouard: "If we bring this second-half mentality like tonight, we're going to be hard to beat."
 
Junior Miles Wayer: "I think if we all gel together, have trust in each other like this game, our ceiling is high."
 
UP NEXT
The Hounds will host Maryville (8-14, 3-10 GLVC) next Thursday in Nicoson Hall for a 7:30 p.m. tip. The Saints have dropped their past three games, including a 87-73 setback to Missouri S&T on Saturday.