INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI basketball team strung together a second-straight two-point win, this time defending the home floor with a thrilling 71-69 overtime win over Ball State. After missing a potential game-winner at the end of regulation, junior P.J. Boutte atoned by dropping in the game-winner as time expired in overtime. 

The win was IUPUI's (2-2) first inside the Fairgrounds Coliseum and put the Jaguars at .500 for the first time since the start of the 2012-13 campaign.

Boutte capped a 16-point, six assist game with the game-winner on a broken play, after he had setup the possession by collecting a steal from BSU's Jeremie Tyler in the backcourt. The Indianapolis-native tied the game at the free throw line with just under 40 seconds left before both teams called timeouts to set the stage. Head Coach Jason Gardner directed his troops to trap in the backcourt, allowing Boutte to strip the ball away. On the ensuing possession, the ball went to Marcellus Barksdale on the right side, isolated against BSU's Matt Kamieniecki. However, Barksdale's kick-out pass to Boutte went wide, forcing the Jaguars' point guard to tip-toe along the center court line with precious seconds ticking away. Boutte collected the ball near midcourt with just under four seconds to play, dribbled towards the left elbow and floated in a teardrop. 

"I didn't know what was going to happen. The only thing that was going through my mind was we were just trying to win," Boutte said. "We'd been fighting hard all game and fortunately I was able to get the ball and get that shot."

"It feels great. I think the biggest thing is that this is the second game in a row where we fought all the way to the end. We kept fighting. I believe in them," Gardner said of his team. "The team is growing up, getting better and knowing how to win."

IUPUI led by as many as eight early in the second half after an Aaron Brennan layup, but eventually had to scramble to get to overtime. After the game's sixth tie with 5:32 left, Ball State scored the game's next five points, capped by a pair of Sean Sellers free throws. The Jaguars ultimately tied the game with 1:35 left on Mason Archie, II's three-point play, but both teams had chances to go in front in regulation. Ball State missed two contested chances from point blank range, giving IUPUI a chance to go ahead with under a minute. However, Barksdale missed on a drive and the advantage swung back in favor of Ball State. The Jaguars came through with a second key stop though as Kamieniecki turned the ball over as DavRon Williams collected a steal, setting up the final possession of regulation. Boutte worked in from the right side and missed on a runner, sending the game to overtime. 

In overtime, Ball State went without a field goal, scoring all eight points at the foul line. IUPUI was 3-of-7 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the stripe to take the win. 

"I'm pleased and proud of the way we keep fighting down the stretch," Gardner said. "I think our execution is getting better. Our execution is what's helping us towards the end (of games). The guys are getting better at knowing how to play with each other, what to call and where to be."

Archie hit a three on IUPUI's first offensive possession of the game, but it was seemingly lights out after that as the Jaguars started 2-of-13 from the field. Despite the cold shooting, Ball State never got separation, building just a five-point lead. IUPUI's pressure defense erased the BSU lead, beginning with an Archie steal and dunk with 3:13 left before halftime. On the next Ball State possession, a second Archie steal led to a Barksdale layup, prompting a Cardinal timeout. After the timeout, Brennan collected a third straight steal, but IUPUI went empty at the offensive end. However, IUPUI gathered a fourth straight steal when Boutte pickpocketed Tyler near midcourt and raced the other way for a three-point play. IUPUI pushed out to a 32-27 lead, but settled for a 32-31 halftime advantage.

"The players did a great job of amping it up (defensively)," Gardner said. "I thought they did a good job of picking our moments, trapping and denying the wings." 

All total, IUPUI forced 25 BSU turnovers and converted them into 26 points. Much of that was because the reigning MAC Freshman of the Year Zavier Turner was sidelined for the Cardinals on Saturday. BSU won the glass 42-28 and shot 35 free throws to IUPUI's 12 attempts. The Cards outscored IUPUI 28-9 at the free throw line and didn't tally a field goal in the final 6:50 of the contest. Sellers led all players with 22 points and six boards while Kamieniecki posted a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds. Tyler also finished in double-digits with 12 points and seven rebounds, but turned the ball over seven times. 

Boutte was 6-of-13 from the field for his career-high 16 while Brennan, making his second career start, scored a season-high 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting before fouling out. Archie also finished in double-figures with 13 points, including a pair of threes. Barksdale turned in a solid effort as well with nine points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. 

IUPUI will be back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 25 when the Jaguars take on Drake in Des Moines, Iowa at 8:05 p.m. Eastern. The game will be heard on WNDE 1260 AM, iHeartRadio and WNDE.com as Morgan Adcock (pxp) calls the action from courtside.