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INDIANAPOLIS - For the second game in a row, the Jaguars picked up a win over one of the best teams in the Horizon League. The Jaguars (11-17, 8-9 Horizon) used a strong performance from their bench to take down the first-place Wright State (21-9, 13-4 Horizon), 66-56.
 
In front of a rowdy crowd of more than 2,000 third graders as part of IUPUI's partnership with the NCAA's "Readers Become Leaders" program, both sides came out sluggish. Sophomore Nick Rogers opened the game with a three on the first possession of the game, but both sides started off cold beyond that. The two teams didn't break the double digit mark until over halfway through the first half as they were tied at 11 with just under eight minutes to play.
 
In the latter part of the half, the offense started to open up for the Jaguars. Rogers connected twice from behind the arc, and D.J. McCall converted on a layup while drawing a foul. The Jaguars' bench also provided solid contributions late in the first half, getting threes from both Jaylen Minnett and Elyjah Goss. Wright State got a layup in the final seconds of the half to tie the game at 27 headed into the break.
 
"I thought defensively we were flying around and communicating a lot more," head coach Jason Gardner said. "The crowd was phenomenal for us. They gave us a lot of energy from the start."
 
"I know coming in I have to bring the energy and there can't be any drop-off," Goss said. "Whether it's rebounding or talking on defense, I just keep the energy going."
 
In the first half, the score was tied six times. The lead changed four times, and neither team was able to build a lead bigger than five points at any point in the opening period.
 
"It was a slow game scoring wise, but we hit a couple shots to stop some runs and give us some energy in the first half," Rogers said.
 
The second half opened up in opposite fashion as each team was able to generate a rhythm on the offensive end. The Jaguars got buckets from their frontcourt of Evan Hall and Aaron Brennan, while Wright State added 10 points of their own to take a 39-35 lead early in the second half. The Jaguars used an 8-0 run to take a 43-39 lead despite piling up fouls on the other end. Wright State reached the double bonus by the 11:30 mark and four Jaguars had at least three fouls, including Brennan and Maurice Kirby who had four each. Wright State quickly responded with a 6-0 run to take a 45-43 lead.
 
"Our bench played very well. Elyjah came in a got rebounds and Kirby did a good job of guarding. When our bench came in I thought they uplifted us defensively and offensively.
 
As was the case the entire game, the Jaguars responded with a run of their own. Spurred by multiple trips to the free throw line by T.J. Henderson, the Jaguars went up 56-48 with just over five minutes to play. Following an exchange of baskets, the Jaguars held a 58-52 lead with three minutes to play.
 
Out of the timeout, McCall knocked down four straight free throws to give the Jaguars their first double digit lead at 62-52. The Jaguar defense locked in down the stretch to maintain the lead and McCall again stepped up to the line to knock down free throws in the closing minute. Henderson capped off a perfect 10-of-10 day at the free throw line to get to the final margin of 66-56.
 
"It was grind it out game. Both sides were scrapping and fighting to see who could get the lead. Down the stretch the missed some shots and we took care of it at the line at the end," Gardner said.
 
The Jaguars were led in scoring by Henderson who had a game-high of 12 points. Rogers and McCall joined him in double figures with 11 points each. The biggest key in the game was the play of the Jaguars' bench. IUPUI's reserves outscored Wright State's 28-16 thanks to contributions from Henderson, Minnett, Goss and Maurice Kirby. Goss pulled down nine rebounds while Minnett added seven points.
 
"At the end of the season to have as many guys that can play as we do, it definitely helps us and gives us some different looks offensively and defensively. Hopefully it's keeping us fresh down the stretch and giving us an advantage," Gardner said.
 
"I think we're one of the most lethal teams in the conference when it comes to depth. We can go eight or nine guys deep," Goss said.
 
Wright State had just two players in double figures. Everett Winchester and Grant Benzinger led the way in scoring with 12 and 11 points, respectively. The 56-point outing was their lowest total of the Horizon League season.

Wright State shot just 33 percent for the game and 5-of-19 from three. 

IUPUI will cap the regular season on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 25) when the Jaguars host Northern Kentucky at 1:00 p.m. inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The IUPUI Athletics Department will recognize the senior trio of Brennan, Patterson and Kirby before the game, beginning at 12:45 p.m. In addition, there will be an All-Sports Reunion that day and the 2017 women's soccer team will receive their Horizon League Championship rings at halftime of the contest.