ROLLA, Mo. – The UIndy men's basketball team started strong in Saturday's matchup with Missouri S&T before the fifth-ranked Miners pulled away in the second half to win, 93-77.
Brody Whitaker scored a team-high 19 points, while
Tucker Tornatta finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.
S&T proved its national ranking on the offensive end, shooting 50 percent (36 for 72) from the field and 48 percent (12 for 25) from 3-point range.
INS & OUTS
The Greyhounds came out with a chip on their shoulder, scoring the first buckets of the game thanks to Tornatta and
Lavonte Harris. The teams traded punches, highlighted by
Dashawn Jackson drilling a pair of 3-pointers midway through the opening half.
Staring down a five-point deficit with 5:41 before the break, UIndy clawed back to even the game at 39 apiece after a couple free throws from
Dylan Ingram and a triple from
Grant Disken.
It was Disken and Ingram that orchestrated the half's final stretch, as well, scoring five of the game's final seven points to give the Hounds a 44-41 advantage.
Tornatta hit a jumper at the 15:17 mark to inch the Greyhounds back within four after a slow start to the second half, but it was all Miners from then-on-out. S&T went 9 for 14 from 3-point range in the second half to pull away, all while taking advantage of 15 offensive rebounds with 18 second-chance points.
INSIDE THE BOX
- Whitaker finished on an efficient note for the weekend with a 7-of-10 effort from the field.
- UIndy sunk nine free throws on 10 attempts, its third time this season shooting 90 percent or better with at least 10 tries from the line.
-
Zac Szul drew his second straight start, logging 35 minutes with four points and three boards.
- Disken dished out a team-high three assists and has recorded at least three helpers five times this winter. The graduate student added nine points to the scoring column.
UP NEXT
The Greyhounds return home on Thursday in a rematch with Maryville from earlier this season. Tip with the Saints is set for 7:30 p.m. at Nicoson Hall.
