Box Score I Box Score (.html) I Box Score (.pdf) I Todd Howard Postgame I Donovan Gibbs Postgame

INDIANAPOLIS - Junior center Mitchell Patton led six Jaguars in double-digits with 18 points and 10 rebounds and classmate Donovan Gibbs added 12 points and 15 boards as IUPUI captured an 86-69 exhibition win over Trine University on Saturday (Nov. 3) inside The Jungle.

"It was tough just practicing against each other everyday. We were excited to get out here and play against someone else for the first time," Gibbs said. "There was a couple kinks, but we finally got it together at the end."

"I liked our effort throughout," head coach Todd Howard said. "A lot of times box scores aren't indicative of the effort, but I thought our effort was there. I thought we spread the wealth quite a bit. Some guys stepped up.

"I was pleased, just with the rotations kind of solidified what's been developing as we prepare for the opener."

Despite controlling play and leading throughout, IUPUI found itself in a dogfight with just a 60-58 lead with 6:52 left after Nick Tatu made a long three after a Scott Rogers steal on the blocks. Rather than hunkering down and going to battle, the Jaguars continued to play fast and try to get out in transition against the tiring Thunder. The move worked as IUPUI closed the game by outscoring the guests 26-11, turning the final two-plus minutes into garbage time.

Senior John Hart initiated the run by getting to the free throw line for a pair of makes, followed by Patton dropping in an easy bucket off a feed from Greg Rice. After IUPUI collected another Trine turnover via an offensive foul, Hart added another point to the lead by splitting a pair of free throws.

The guests got back within 65-60 on a Malone drive, but IUPUI came up with a key possession at the other end. Senior Sean Esposito missed a runner, but climbed over a defender to grab the board and recycle the shot clock. Rice then drove down the lane and missed on a drive, but Patton gathered the offensive rebound and tipped in the miss to make it 67-61.

Gibbs scored on IUPUI's next two trips to push the lead to double-digits and Trine got no closer than three possessions the rest of the day.

"We just tried to step up the intensity," Gibbs said of the late surge. "We were playing pretty well and trying to execute, but they were there at every turn. We just tried to step it up just a little bit and one by one, we stepped it up and got it together."

IUPUI blew out to a 7-2 lead in the game's opening four minutes including a steal and reverse dunk from Ian Chiles and seemed primed for a runaway win. However, Trine used timely shooting and a solid interior presence from Todd Watkins to hang around though.

The Thunder tied the score at 14 all midway through the first half on a Tatu wing three before Rice responded with a trey of his own. IUPUI closed the half strong, taking a 39-28 lead with 27 seconds left on a wide open Sean Esposito trey, but Trine countered with an Ian Jackson triple in the final seconds.

Hart finished with 16 points on 4-of-13 shooting and both Chiles and Rice scored 11 each. Esposito came up with 10 points and six boards off the bench, helping IUPUI outrebound the Thunder, 37-28. Twelve of IUPUI's caroms came off the offensive glass, leading to a 20-5 advantage in second chance points.

"I thought what Donovan Gibbs and Mitchell Patton did was phenomenal," Howard said. "I thought Greg Rice and Sean Esposito combining for 10 assists was really good. We were very pleased on a lot of levels."

Malone led Trine with 14 points and six assists off the bench and Jackson added 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting.

IUPUI will open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 2 when the Jaguars host Utah Valley University at 2:00 p.m. inside The Jungle. That game can be heard on WNDE.com or via the iHeartRadio app available for smartphone users. In addition, fans can view the game online through the IUPUI LIVE! subscription service with Scott McCauley (pxp) on the call.

Tickets are $10 for adult reserved seats and children 12-and-under are admitted for $7. Like every home game inside The Jungle, student admission is FREE of charge with a valid JagTag.