Box Score

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Junior George Hill scored a career-high 34 points and classmate Gary Patterson added a season-best 19 as the Jaguars outlasted UMKC, 77-72 at Municipal Auditorium on Thursday night. The Jaguars connected on 10-of-17 from three-point range, led by Hill's four triples.

IUPUI (10-3, 2-0) closed the game with an 8-0 run to escape with the victory and remain undefeated in conference play.

"We were lucky to get out of here with a win tonight," IUPUI head coach Ron Hunter said. "When you're the hunted, you're going to get everyone's best shot."

Thanks to a sharp opening five minutes, IUPUI held the lead for the game's first 35 minutes of the night. The Jags opened the contest with a 15-2 run, fueled by threes on three of the game's first four possessions. 

The Roos' methodically chipped away before finally taking their first lead at 63-62 with 5:08 left on a Reggie Hamilton short jumper. The score was tied three times over the next three minutes before the Kangaroos (5-10, 0-3) took their final lead with 82 seconds left when Brent Stephens hit three free throws after being fouled by Jon Avery on a three-point attempt. 

Hill pulled IUPUI within one with 47 seconds left when he dropped in a scoop shot after beating his defender off the dribble. At the other end, Hamilton lost possession on an ill advised drive, then fouled Hill after he corralled the loose ball. Hill stroked both free throws to give the Jags a 73-72 lead. 

Dane Brumagin missed a 14-footer with 23 seconds left and Drew Conner grabbed his season-high sixth rebound of the night. Conner found Patterson, who made both free throws after being immediately fouled. Hamilton missed a three that would have tied the game with six seconds left and Patterson iced the victory with two more freebies. 

"I thought our experience won the game for us tonight," IUPUI head coach Ron Hunter said. "We've got veteran guys and they made plays down the stretch. I wasn't overly happy with our free throw shooting, but we hit them when we had to."

IUPUI finished the night at 19-of-26 from the foul line while UMKC hit 14-of-18. 

Stephens led a balanced UMKC attack with 16 points off the bench while Hamilton added 10. The IUPUI defense limited Brumagin, UMKC's leading scorer, to just six points before fouling out. All 11 'Roos that played scored at least two points, while IUPUI was just the opposite. The Jaguars played just seven players and watched the trio of Hill, Patterson and Austin Montgomery account for 68 of the team's 77 points. 

"Our big three was very good tonight," Hunter said. "They all looked like all-league players tonight. When they're all three going, we can be very good."

Montgomery finished with 15, hitting 5-of-10 from the floor and 3-of-4 from three-point range. Hill hit 12-of-20 from the floor to accompany his five rebounds and three steals. 

IUPUI will now fly to Las Vegas before heading east to take on Southern Utah on Saturday night, with tipoff slated for 9:30 p.m. EST. Pregame coverage on Freedom 95.9 FM will begin at appoximately 9:00 p.m. as Greg Rakestraw (pbp) calls the action.