INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy men's basketball team earned a thrilling victory on Monday evening, defeating in-region Grand Valley in double-overtime, 88-86. The Greyhounds led for more than 41 minutes in the instant classic, as the Lakers fought back to force both extra sessions.
 
Monday marked the third straight non-conference regional victory for the Hounds, following up a road win last Wednesday at Thomas More. It is also the third consecutive win over the Lakers for the Hounds, who now lead the all-time series, 7-5. 
 
Tucker Tornatta was a stat-sheet stuffer in the win, recording the second double-double of his young career with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hounds led by 13 with under 10 minutes in regulation after Noah Kon dropped in his second field goal of the evening. UIndy appeared in control at the 7:33 mark following Grant Diksen's third triple, stretching the Greyhound advantage back to 12. The Lakers responded with a 9-0 run before tying it at 73 apiece to force overtime.
 
Grand Valley grabbed its first lead of the night in the first extra session and forced the Hounds in a tough situation as time trickled away. Tornatta stepped up with a step-back 3-pointer – his lone triple – to put the Greyhounds back ahead; however, Grand Valley answered once again with a game-tying bucket, requesting just five more minutes of action.
 
After a couple missed free throws down the stretch, Dashawn Jackson gave UIndy the lead for good with 31 seconds on the clock. The Lakers got their turn at the buzzer this time and, just like the previous two game-winning efforts in regulation and overtime, it flirted with the rim before bouncing out, a scream of jubilance sounding from the Greyhound bench.
 
INSIDE THE BOX
- Tornatta added a team-high six assists, while the team's 20 helpers are the most since January 2024 at Truman.
- Zac Szul drew his first start since the season opener, totaling 21+ minutes of action.
- Disken recorded 16 points with three triples, including a nifty and-1 jumper from inside the arc in the second half.
- Dylan Ingram was undeterred after missing his first four 3-pointers, drilling four of his next five in the final 30+ minutes to finish with 14 points.
- Jackson's 24 points is the most in a game for the junior this season and he has now made at least three 3-pointers on six occasions.
 
MORE NOTES
It was the first double-overtime contest at Nicoson Hall since January 2010, a 90-85 UIndy triumph over Illinois Springfield ... the Hounds did not turn the ball over in the final 12+ minutes, including either overtime session … Grand Valley's Kaden Brown dropped a career-high 32 points, including eight 3-pointers …  the Greyhounds have now finished with a positive turnover ratio eight times … Ingram posted four of the team's nine blocks in the win; Lavonte Harris added one in nearly 13 minutes off the bench.
 
HOUND BYTES
Jackson on the difference in the second overtime…
"Probably our focus. We felt like we should've put them away in regulation and the first overtime and we had to lock in together and secure the W."
 
Jackson on Tornatta's performance…
"Big shoutout to Tucker. For a freshman, that's a huge game."
 
UP NEXT
UIndy faces one more tough test before the calendar flips to 2025, as it heads to No. 21 Hillsdale Saturday afternoon. It will be the teams' first meeting since November 2016.