INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI basketball team raced past visiting Franklin College inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum in its 2022-23 home opener on Saturday (Nov. 19). Armon Jarrard had 11 points and blocked a pair of shots and Chris Osten finished with 10 points and seven boards in just 18 minutes. Sophomore Jlynn Counter closed with eight points, seven boards and six assists. 

IUPUI (1-3) put the defensive clamps on Franklin, limiting them to just 32.2 percent from the floor and 5-of-29 (17.2 percent) from three-point range. IUPUI closed the game at 43 percent. 

"It wasn't pretty, but these guys are still trying to figure things out and figuring out what it takes to win basketball games," head coach Matt Crenshaw said. "After a slow start, I thought we got going defensively and that led to us getting out in transition and getting some easy ones. 

"It's plays like that that get the crowd into it and give us some energy. I liked that we strung together some (defensive) stops and built a lead and took care of business in the second half."

IUPUI trailed 15-6 in early going, but outscored Franklin 53-30 over the final 30 minutes, using length and athleticism to sneak out in transition.  

IUPUI shot just 39 percent from the floor in the opening half and had to warm up late to reach that level. The early degree of difficulty of the IUPUI attempts saw the Jaguars fall into the 15-6 hole before Amhad Jarrard leaked out for a two-handed dunk. IUPUI closed the half, outscoring Franklin 16-4 over the final eight-plus minutes, holding the Grizzlies to just 2-of-9 shooting with four turnovers. 

At the offensive end, IUPUI scored 20 of its 22 first half points in the paint with the other two coming from Jonah Carrasco after he was fouled in close. 

The Jags reeled off a 10-0 run early in the second half to push the lead out to 13, capped by a Bryce Monroe corner three. It marked Monroe's lone three points of his IUPUI debut after he missed the opening three contests of the season. 

Carrasco finished with seven points and five boards and Daylan Hamilton closed with four points and four rebounds. Trey Flatt paced Franklin with eight points. 

The Jaguars will return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 23 when they begin play at the Big Easy Classic, hosted by the University of New Orleans. IUPUI is slated to face Denver (Nov. 23), host UNO (Nov. 24) and The Citadel (Nov. 25) over a span of three days.