Late Run Drops 'Dons in Summit Opener

Thursday, December 27

Indianapolis, Ind.

7 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

6-8, 0-1

IUPUI

6-10, 1-2

Fort Wayne

IUPUI

12/27/2012 9:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BOX SCORE (.pdf) | BOX SCORE

INDIANAPOLIS -IPFW led 68-61 with 8:07 to play, the seven-point margin representing the Mastodons' largest lead of the game, but struggled the rest of the way, as the IUPUI Jaguars closed the contest on a 27-6 run to claim an 88-74 win in IPFW's Summit League opener.

Frank Gaines scored a game-high 28 points, while three others, Mario Hines, Michael Kibiloski, and Joe Edwards each had nine. Gaines and Isaiah McCray each pulled down seven rebounds for the 'Dons, while McCray dished out five assists and picked up three steals.

A Gaines three-point-play give IPFW (6-8, 0-1 Summit) a 3-2 lead early in the game; however, the Jaguars (6-10, 1-2 Summit) scored the next eight points to take a seven-point, 10-3 lead.

The Mastodons fought back, tying the score three times in the opening period, and only took a brief lead, as the teams went into the locker room knotted at 39.

The margin remained tight in the second half, before IPFW took a lead when Pierre Bland laid in the Mastodons' second straight breakaway lay-up to push ahead 60-59.

The 'Dons would hold onto that lead, pushing ahead by as many as seven at 68-61 with 8:07 to play after a Gaines jumper gave IPFW the lead.

The lead remained at seven at 70-63 before the Jaguars used a combination of solid defense and a cold IPFW offense which saw the hosts run off a streak of 25-4 over the final seven minutes of the game to claim the win.

IPFW out-rebounded IUPUI 30-to-27, and grabbed 10 offensive rebounds to IUPUI's five. Hines blocked a team-high two shots, as all eight Mastodon players who saw action in the game reached the scoring column.

The Mastodons return to action on Saturday, December 29, when the squad will face off against the Western Illinois Leathernecks in an 8 p.m. EST tip-off in Macomb, Ill.

~ Feel the Rumble ~