INDIANAPOLIS - With just eight players available for action on Thursday, IUPUI rolled out to a 16-point lead and held off UMKC down the stretch for a 77-72 for head coach Ron Hunter's 200th career victory. Sophomore Craig Swoope posted a career-high 22 points in 32 minutes work, while senior David Barlow added 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
"Our guys showed a ton of heart tonight," Hunter said. "They're worn out down there. I can't say enough about them, but they left it all on the court tonight.
"Craig played the second half on one leg, when we needed him most. I can't tell you how proud I am of a group of guys that rallied and showed a lot of guts, a lot of heart, a lot of pride.
"We found a way to win the game."
IUPUI (8-9, 2-2 Mid-Con) led by 16 one possession into the second half after senior Angelo Smith completed an old fashioned three-point play. UMKC (7-13, 2-2 Mid-Con) immediately climbed back into the game, using a 12-0 run, capped by eight straight points from Dane Brumagin.
The Jags maintained the lead until the Kangaroos used a late 12-4 spurt to tie the game at 68-68 with 3:18 left. Quinton Day missed a three on the possession, but Alex Pledger got the offensive rebound and worked the ball to Dominique Johnson, who rattled in a triple. The teams traded points on their next two trips, keeping the score tied at 72 all with 1:15 left.
IUPUI took the lead for good with 54.4 seconds left when Swoope missed a jumper, but freshman Billy Pettiford sailed in for the offensive rebound. After running some time off, Swoope drew a foul and swished both ensuing free throws. After Johnson and Brumagin missed treys at the other end, Barlow made it a three-point game by splitting a pair of free throws with 22 ticks left.
Barlow drew an offensive foul from Day on UMKC's ensuing possession to seal the Jags' victory.
For the game, both teams hit an identical 45.6 percent from the floor and committed 12 turnovers. UMKC hit one more trey than the Jags, while IUPUI outscored the guests from the foul line, 16-10.
IUPUI also outrebounded UMKC 35-30, although Pledger grabbed a game-high 10. Brumagin led UMKC with a career-high 28 points, while Johnson added 17 off the bench. Day, UMKC's top scorer, was held to just six points on 2-of-7 shooting as the Jags pestered him with a box-and-one for much of the night.
"I thought Craig and (Jon) Avery did a really good job of chasing Day," Hunter said. "It's something we've used in the past and it worked tonight. We shut the guy down that we needed to shut down."
"Coach has preached to me all week about staying on (Day)," Swoope said. "He's a great player - he's really fast and is quick at changing directions."
Brent Stephens added 11 points for the 'Roos before fouling out.
Smith pitched in a career-high 17 points and six rebounds for the Jags, while Austin Montgomery contributed 10 points and six rebounds. He and Barlow both played the entire 40 minutes, while Smith played 36.
Pettiford, making his third career start, had seven points and seven rebounds in a career-high 31 minutes.
"This was a big win for us tonight," Hunter said. "Little by little, we'll start getting healthier and start getting people back."
IUPUI opened the game with a 10-0 run, before later bumping the lead to 17-3 on a Swoope jumper. UMKC got within four at 26-22 with 5:59 left in the half, but the Jags scored the final eight points before halftime to take a 42-29 lead to the locker room.
The Jags hit eight first half treys, connecting at a 57.1 percent clip.
The game was IUPUI's first home game in over a month, as they improved to 4-1 on the year in The Jungle. UMKC dropped to 0-9 on the season on the road. Hunter, who was honored with a game ball prior to the contest for recently becoming the program's all-time wins leader, became the fourth active Mid-Con coach to amass 200 career wins.
IUPUI concludes its brief two-game homestand on Saturday when they host Southern Utah in the backend of a doubleheader. Game time is slated for approximately 7:00 p.m.. Pregame coverage beginning at 6:30 can be heard on Gold 95.9 FM as Greg Rakestraw (pbp) and Scott McCauley (color) call the action. It can also be heard via IUPUIJags.com.
