INDIANAPOLIS - Through 20 minutes, it appeared as though the IUPUI basketball team was running in mud, laboring its way to a 28-23 halftime deficit. In the second half, the Jaguars shot a blistering 65 percent and got to the line 20 times to outlast Western Michigan, 71-63 in The Jungle on Saturday night.
The win was IUPUI's (7-2) first-ever over the Broncos and the team's sixth-in-a-row. Junior George Hill led all scorers with 21 points, 14 of which came in the second half.
"I really thought George took over this basketball game," IUPUI head coach Ron Hunter said. "He controlled the tempo, he made plays for everyone on the court and really just put us on his back when we needed him.
"That's what big time players can do."
After hitting just 8-of-25 shots against a physical WMU (4-6) defense in the first half, the Jaguars came out poised and aggressive in the second. Hill got to the rim on IUPUI's first two possessions, dropping in a layup on the first and converting a scintillating three-point play on the second, making it 30-28 with 18:48 left.
Western regained its composure and stretched its advantage out to seven coming out of the first media timeout, but the Jags responded with a back breaking 13-0 run. IUPUI held the lead the rest of the night.
Sophomore Billy Pettiford opened the rally with an open three while senior Austin Montgomery fueled it with consecutive triples. All 14 of Montgomery's points came in the final 13 minutes.
"We're finding ways to win ball games right now," Hunter said. "We didn't shoot particularly well tonight, so we did a good enough job defending and getting to the foul line. It's always good to win when you don't play your best."
The Broncos got back within four with 10:13 left when David Kool muscled his way inside for a layup, but IUPUI countered with a Montgomery 14-footer and carried at least a two possession edge over the final 10 minutes.
Pettiford matched his career-high with 16 points and Jon Avery added eight off the bench. Freshman LeRoy Nobles contributed seven points, hitting 5-of-6 at the charity stripe.
IUPUI, the nation's top free throw shooting team coming into play, hit 24-of-27 (88.9 percent) on the night to salt the game away down the stretch. The Jags entered play hitting 80 percent as a team.
Derek Drews led four Broncos in double-digits with 14 points while Shawntes Gary added 13 while battling foul trouble. Joe Reitz, a native of Fishers, scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds, but saw his night come to a climactic close.
The 6-foot-7 center picked up his fourth foul with 2:42 left and was immediately assessed a technical for arguing the play. IUPUI swished all four of the ensuing free throws to push the lead back to 10.
IUPUI finished the night hitting 46.7 percent from the floor while limiting WMU to just under 42 percent. The Broncos hit 8-of-22 (36.4 percent) from beyond the arc, but were outscored 24-9 at the foul line.
WMU won the battle of the boards 33-25, but committed four more turnovers than the victors.
IUPUI led for much of the first half before a prolonged field goal drought allowed WMU to pull ahead. Shawntes Gary hit a pair of threes during a 12-3 run that saw WMU go from five down to four up during a five minute stretch. Drews and Reitz combined on WMU's final seven points of the half to take the five point lead to the lockerroom.
IUPUI returns to action Monday night when they host Florida Gulf Coast in The Jungle, tipping off at 7:00 p.m.. That game can be heard on Freedom 95.9 FM or can be viewed as part of the SummitTV package online.
Tickets are still available by contacting the IUPUI Athletics Office at 317-274-5453.
