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NIAGARA, N.Y. - Junior Camron Justice scored a game-high 23 points, including hitting 5-of-8 three-point attempts, and senior Ahmed Ismail pitched in his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 boards off the Jaguars' bench as IUPUI rolled past Grambling State, 80-69, to win the Niagara Regional of the Fort Myers Tip-Off on Friday night (Nov. 24). IUPUI (4-2) roared out to a 23-point second half lead to turn a tight game into a laugher en route to continuing the program's best start since the 2009-10 season. Justice was named MVP of the Niagara Regional and joined on the All-Tournament Team by senior stopper D.J. McCall. 

The Jaguars shot 48 percent overall and 39 percent from three-point range to overwhelm Grambling State (3-3), which shot just 37 percent from the floor. 

However, it was the Jaguars' depth that was the story as Ismail became the eighth different IUPUI player to tally double-digits this season. The 7-foot-1 Manhattan-transfer had just 10 points in the season's first five games before hitting 6-of-9 field goal attempts and all four of his free throws in 26 minutes of action. Ismail was pressed into extended duty as Evan Hall, Elyjah Goss and Jack Hansen all battled with foul trouble throughout the evening. 

"Ahmed made a major, major difference on the game tonight. I thought [Grambling State] was really pounding us on the glass early and Ahmed came in and kind of slowed them down there and did a good job of challenging some shots and helping us get some stops," head coach Jason Gardner said. "They had a hard time handling him when he got catches in low and you saw him pass out of some double teams too to get some other guys some easy buckets. 

"This trip was all about the whole team coming together to win games and that's what we've done the past two games. I'm really proud of every guy up and down the roster for coming up here and getting the job done. It's never an easy thing to win on back-to-back nights on short rest, but these guys took care of business and made it happen. We're looking forward to getting home and getting some home games in now and hopefully getting a lot of support out at the Coliseum."

Things were close early until IUPUI finally got some separation when Ismail completed a three-point play to give the Jags a 20-13 lead midway through the first half. Grambling reeled off the game's next seven points to tie the score at 20 all before IUPUI countered with a 12-2 run that included a pair of Justice triples. IUPUI led 39-31 at the half, thanks to McCall's first trey of the season on the final possession of the stanza.  Sophomore Jaylen Minnett turned down a contested look and drove into the teeth of the defense before kicking out to the wing for McCall make in front of the opposition's bench. 

IUPUI opened the second half with a 7-1 burst, again capped by a Justice trifecta, prompting a Grambling timeout. Even after the Tigers closed within 12, IUPUI fired back with a decisive 13-2 run over the game's next five minutes to take control. 

Ismail began the run with two makes at the foul line and McCall followed with a two-handed slam thanks to a Justice lead pass to spark the break. Goss then followed with a layup and on the next trip, Justice spun in an athletic reverse off a find from Ismail. Grambling Dallas Polk-Hilliard stopped the bleeding momentarily, but Hansen swished a trey and Minnett capped the run with a short jumper. 

Gardner's squad still led by 18 with 2:49 left, but yielded seven straight points with the reserves on the floor, including back-to-back thunderous dunks and a corner three from Prince Moss. Leading by 11 with just more than a minute left, Gardner went back to his regulars to close the final minute, which lasted seemingly an eternity as Jaguars paraded to the foul line to pad scoring totals. The Tigers finally opted against fouling with just more than 20 seconds left after a Lasani Johnson misfire. 

Polk-Hilliard and Axel Mpoyo led Grambling with 11 points each and Ivy Smith added eight points, five assists and four boards. The Tigers shot just 32 percent in the second half after a respectable 42 percent first half effort. 

IUPUI lost the glass 43-37, marking the first time the Jaguars have been outrebounded since the season opening loss at Xavier. However, the Jaguars outscored the Tigers 32-28 in the paint and 24-15 off turnovers. 

With the win, IUPUI closed the Fort Myers Tip-Off at 3-1 overall, including a true road win over eventual tournament champion Boston College.

IUPUI will return home to begin a five-game homestand on Wednesday night (Nov. 28) when the Jaguars host Bradley University at 7:00 p.m. inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Come celebrate Jawz' birthday as part of Mascot Mania and Boomer and Pacers Power Pack will electrify the crowd at halftime. In addition, IUPUI students in attendance will receive FREE ROAR t-shirts while supplies last. In addition, tickets are available at all TicketMaster outlets and at the Coliseum box office.

All-Tournament Team
*Camron Justice – IUPUI
D.J. McCall - IUPUI
Dallas Polk-Hillard – Grambling State
Keon Williams – Saint Francis Brooklyn
Dominic Robb – Niagara