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DES MOINES, Iowa - Senior Robert Glenn made 15-of-17 shots and turned in a career-high 37 points as IUPUI opened the 2009-10 basketball season with an 88-82 win at Drake in the opening round of the Glenn Wilkes Classic. The victory was the 250th of Head Coach Ron Hunter's career, upping his school record in that category.

IUPUI (1-0) shot a blistering 67.3 percent from the floor, setting a new program record at the Division I level in that category, to help offset 17 turnovers. Junior Leroy Nobles scored 17 of his career-high 27 points in the first half and finished hitting 5-of-7 from three-point range. Sophomore Alex Young chipped in 19, hitting 5-of-9 from three as the Jags connected on 10-of-17 (58.8 percent) from beyond the arc.

"We've got some guys that really score the basketball. Robert Glenn was a matchup nightmare for them today and once he got going, we knew he had to touch the ball every possession. He really opened up the game for Leroy and Alex," IUPUI Head Coach Ron Hunter said. "Obviously, we've got a long ways to go defensively, but when we needed stops today, we were able to get them. That's the sign of a winning basketball team.

"When you're able to dig in for a number of possessions and keep them off the scoreboard - that what wins basketball games."

Drake got 23 points from Ryan Wedel, who scored 14 points in the game's first 3:29 on four treys and a 15-footer. Young opened the game with a long three but Drake (0-1) quickly built an eight point lead less than five minutes in behind Wedel's hot trigger. The lead swelled to 11 at 36-25 with 5:02 left before halftime before Glenn began taking over.

The former Summit League Newcomer of the Year had four dunks in the half's final five minutes to pull IUPUI within 46-41 at the break.

The second half resembled a game of H-O-R-S-E as the two teams matched each other shot for shot, possession for possession.

The Jaguars clawed within one on two separate occasions early in the second half, but both times Drake freshman Ben Simons answered with threes at the other end. A 10-2 Drake run made it 63-54 with 13:45 left, but IUPUI countered with a run of its own. A bevvy of Glenn layups and free throws made it a one possession game before Nobles tied the score at 75 all with 5:28 left.

Drake's Frank Wiseler put the hosts back in front temporarily with a three before Young finally gave the Jags the lead with by scoring eight straight. His fourth three of the game tied the score at 78 all and his fifth gave IUPUI an 81-80 lead at the 3:47 mark. He later scored on a driving finger roll to make it 83-80 with 2:34 remaining.

The Jags got the key defensive stops on missed jumpers by Wiseler and Seth VanDeest to help seal the win. A layup by Glenn made it a two possession game and three made free throws in the final 15 seconds iced the victory.

"What I really liked about today was that we finished the game," Hunter said. "Last year, I truly believe we would have lost this basketball game. We came so close so many times last year but we really didn't know how to win. I think this group is more mature and today it showed."

IUPUI only got scoring contributions from four players as senior Jon Avery rounded the quartet with five points. The more athletic Jaguars outscored Drake 42-24 in the paint and Glenn grabbed seven boards as IUPUI outrebounded the hosts 28-18. Junior John Ashworth deliivered eight of the team's 20 assists in 35 minutes work and Nobles handed out five helpers.

Both Ashworth and senior Billy Pettiford were held without a shot attempt, despite being in the starting lineup. Pettiford fouled out in just 15 minutes of action, closing with three rebounds and two assists.

Simons, the runner-up for Michigan's Mr. Basketball Award last season, had 12 points on four threes for the Bulldogs and VanDeest pumped in 10. Drake was without All-MVC guard Josh Young who missed the game due to injury.

Glenn's 37 was the third-highest single-game total in IUPUI's Division I history and were the most by an IUPUI player since Gary Patterson rained 37 against Southern Utah on Jan. 31, 2008.

IUPUI will return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 18 when it travels to Charleston to take on Eastern Illinois at 7:00 p.m.. The Jaguars won last year's meeting between the two schools 67-60 inside Conseco Fieldhouse. The round-robin Glenn Wilkes Classic will continue next weekend when the Jaguars head to Daytona Beach, Fla. for three games inside Ocean Arena. Hunter's squad is scheduled to take on Austin Peay, Auburn and Georgia State on the trip.