Postgame Interviews I Photo Gallery

INDIANAPOLIS - Nostalgia filled the air at The Jungle on Friday (Sept. 28) night as 40 years of IUPUI men’s basketball players gathered and suited up one more time to play in the university’s first ever alumni game in the program's Division I era. The Jaguars’ fight song rang out through the speakers and the players ran out onto the court as they had so many times before. 

The night began with enthusiastic handshakes and warm hellos to teammates they had not seen in a long time, but once the whistle blew, they were thrust back into a game where winning was key.  Players from both the white and gold team hustled up and down the court, throwing up three-point shots, driving hard to the basket and playing tough defense in an eager attempt to prove that while their four-year eligibility had burnt out, they had not.

With 1:14 left on the clock and the Gold Team leading the White Team 85-64, current head coach Todd Howard called time out.  After the time out, the White squad had miraculously scored 21 points to tie the game, and the clock was moved to two minutes remaining.

The Gold Team, even with the helpful timeout for the white team, managed to pull out the win 90-87. Akeem Clark hit a three-point shot at the buzzer that would have tied it up, but the referee called no shot saying time had already ran out. 2012 graduate Christian Siakam and Carlos Knox led the gold team in scoring with a combined 23 points.

Howard said it was special to see how the camaraderie between old teammates was still there.

“It’s humbling and a little emotional to have all these guys here,” Howard said. “The whole event came about really fast. There were a few quick texts, emails and phone calls and they all said, ‘Coach, I’m in.’”

Highlighting the alumni in attendance were several members of the 2003 NCAA Tournament Team including Josh Murray, Josh Mullins, Ryan Osborn, D.A. Harvey, Antoine Lewis, Matt Crenshaw, Marcus May and Blair Crawford. Also in attendance were IUPUI Hall of Famers Knox, Jesse Bingham, Kim King and Crenshaw.   

King, a member of the 1983 team said it felt beautiful to be back.

“I was delighted to come back and see all the young guys,” King said. “It’s good to see all the talent, all the talent that came through IUPUI.”

One of IUPUI basketball’s most noted stars, George Hill, joined the gold team. Hill, entering his second year with the Indiana Pacers, is IUPUI's lone current NBAer. The 6-foot-2 guard says the alumni game is something he had talked to coach Howard about for a long time.

“It’s a blessing to see everyone still healthy, still having fun and have beautiful families to go home to,” Hill said.  “Just to see them five years or 10 years later, it’s pretty fun.”