Game Notes (.pdf) I Live Audio I Live Video

INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI basketball team will return to Summit League action following the Christmas holiday when the Jaguars host Fort Wayne (6-7, 0-0 Summit) on Thursday, Dec. 23 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse at 7:00 p.m.. Live radio coverage will begin on WNDE 1260 AM, WNDE.com and on the free iHeartRadio app at approximately 6:45 p.m. as Scott McCauley (pxp) calls the action. In addition, live video will be available through the IUPUI LIVE! subscription service at tipoff.

On the floor, IUPUI (5-10, 0-2 Summit) is looking to build on the recent success which includes Sunday's 77-68 win at Ball State on Dec. 23. Senior Sean Esposito led the way with a career-high 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting from three-point range and classmate John Hart added 14 points, seven boards and five assists in the victory. For the second straight game, IUPUI shot a blistering 50 percent from three-point range, this time matching its season-high with 11 makes from deep. With juniors Mitchell Patton and Ian Chiles sidelined due to injury, the Jaguars got a key 13-point effort from sophomore Lyonell Gaines and 11 timely points from Jordan Shanklin off the bench.

After IUPUI led by double-digits for much of the game, Ball State climbed within three in the second half before the Jaguars eventually pulled away for a nine-point win.

Forced to play small with just eight scholarship players available, the Jaguars have made the most of the situation of late, using a glut of guards to shoot the basketball from long range. Hart, who comes in ranked sixth in The Summit League in scoring at 14.7 points per game, averaged 16 points per game last week while senior Greg Rice has regained his early season shooting touch. Esposito hadn't hit for double-digits all season long before connecting for 20 on the 23rd and Shanklin continues to rank among the league's top 10 in three-point shooting.

IUPUI is 7-4 all-time inside The Fieldhouse and is 7-3 when serving as the host institution. The Jaguars have won four straight at the Fieldhouse dating back to 2010. The Jags last loss at the Fieldhouse was a 62-60 overtime defeat to IPFW on Jan. 31, 2010 on a Zach Plackemeier buzzer beater.

Fort Wayne comes in at 6-7 overall following a 70-47 home win over Kennesaw State on Dec. 21. Senior guard Frank Gaines leads the Mastodons in scoring at 19.1 points per game while senior forward Mario Hines in the team's top rebounder at 6.2 a night.

IUPUI is 26-11 all-time against IPFW and won the most recent meeting, 66-63 a year ago in Indianapolis.