INDIANAPOLIS – The UIndy men's basketball team led for the 20+ minutes on Thursday evening, closing out an
86-78 victory over Quincy at Nicoson Hall. The Greyhounds regained the lead for good with a pair of late triples from
Grant Disken, including one in the team's final possession with four seconds left in the first half.
Disken finished with a game-high 25 points, the most in his young UIndy career. Four other Hounds joined the graduate student in double figures, including freshman
Tucker Tornatta, who scored all 10 of his points in the second half.
UIndy has now won six straight games dating back to its road win at Thomas More on Dec. 11.
HOW IT HAPPENED
It was a back-and-forth first half, with Quincy leading for most of the first eight minutes.
Dashawn Jackson scored five straight points to put the Hounds ahead early.
Zac Szul provided a spark off the bench, scoring seven points in a five-minute stretch midway through the period and assisting on four of his teammates' buckets.
The Hawks appeared to have momentum going into the break before Disken came knocking with two 3-pointers in the final 53 seconds to turn the tables.
Brody Whitaker provided the dime in those closing moments for the baseline triple from Disken.
Quincy kept it within 10 for the entire second half, making it a one-point ballgame at the 14:17 mark. Jackson sunk a deep 3-pointer before a
Lavonte Harris rebound turned into a layup for
Kelvin Amoako to halt the Hawks' run.
The Greyhounds only managed a pair of five-point stretches as the Hawks kept the game within striking distance. Tornatta hit a wide-open 3-ball from the left wing with 7:41 left to put the Hounds up 10, all but sealing it, as Quincy failed to make it a one-possession game the rest of the way. Just as he started it with a monster first half, Disken stamped UIndy's sixth straight win with a 4-of-4 effort at the charity stripe in the final 38 seconds.
INSIDE THE BOX
- Whitaker scored the first eight points of the game for UIndy, returning to double digits in the scoring column with 14 in the win.
- Szul finished with six helpers, his most as a Greyhound over the past two seasons.
- The UIndy defense forced 14 second-half turnovers, thanks in large part to Tornatta's four thefts. Overall, the Hounds committed 14 steals off Hawks' miscues, with
Dylan Ingram chipping in one.
- As a result of Quincy's 22 turnovers, the Greyhounds scored 29 points with extra possessions compared to the Hawks' 11. UIndy coughed up the ball just four times in the second half.
- The Greyhounds attempted 32 free throws in the win, marking the third time in the last seven games they have recorded at least 31 from the line.
HOUND BYTES
Szul on preparing for Quincy…
"They are one of the hardest playing teams in the league and knew it was going to be a dog fight when they come in here. It's taking a lot of off-season work just getting our bodies ready for these kinds of games.
Steve Barrick does a great job over there in the weight room getting us all ready to play physical, to take a beating and give a beating."
Szul on Disken's energy…
"Grant is an absolute sparkplug. You could tell from when he first stepped foot on campus that he had a different energy to him. Today we came out a little slow and when you look to that one guy to find you some energy, he's got it all the time."
MORE NOTES
UIndy leads all-time series, 27-14 … Quincy freshman Max Booher, a native of nearby Greenwood, finished with 12 points in a team-high 34+ minutes … the Greyhounds have now scored at least 40 first-half points in each of the last three games.
UP NEXT
UIndy welcomes back Upper Iowa to Nicoson Hall on Saturday after a fast-paced barnburner last season in the teams' lone matchup of the season, with the Greyhounds pulling out a
93-80 win.
Tip with the Peacocks is set for 3:30 p.m.
