INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI basketball team shot better than 60 percent from the floor and cruised past Spalding University in front of 4,114 fans inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Monday (Dec. 12) on the annual NCAA Readers Become Leaders Day.
Chris Osten scored a career-high 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting and freshman
Vincent Brady II pumped in 17 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting off the bench to lead the way.
Daylan Hamilton added 12 points off the bench and
Jlynn Counter had 10 points, four rebounds and four assists. IUPUI (2-8) scored the game's first eight points and never trailed in what turned out to be an easy victory. The Jaguars built a 44-17 halftime lead, holding Spalding (1-8) to just 25 percent shooting before intermission.
"I was proud of our guys. It's been a tough week with a lot of guys out of practice and out of today's game due to some sickness. We weren't sure who was going to be able to play until Saturday, so it's been hard to get some good, solid practices in," head coach Matt Crenshaw said. "I thought we did a good job of getting the ball inside early and really establishing our big men on the interior.
"That got us free for some open looks and things just work so much better when you make those open shots. I thought Vince came in and gave us a nice lift off the bench."
Brady and Hamilton connected on three straight threes in an 80 second span to help IUPUI build a 12-point lead. Hamilton's three ignited a 14-0 run as IUPUI held Spalding without a point for more than five minutes to construct a 23-point lead.
Jonah Carrasco capped the run with a three-point play off a find from
Amhad Jarrard. The elder Jarrard finished with five points and a team-high six assists and played a team-high 28 minutes.
With the game well in hand in the second half, Crenshaw was able to balance minutes and reward both
Derek Petersen (10 minutes) and
Caleb Crane (seven minutes) with some extended run.
IUPUI was never seriously threatened after the break and led by as many as 32 late in the contest when Brady tipped in a missed free throw with 5:04 to play.
The Jaguars won the glass 34-30 and outscored the Golden Eagles 34-7 in bench points.
John Egbuta finished with seven points, three rebounds and two assists and Carrasco added five points and six rebounds.
Anthony Dillard led Spalding with 19 points and six boards and Maxton Campbell scored 16 points. The Golden Eagles were held to just one made three, connecting on just 1-of-13 (7.7 percent) overall.
IUPUI will continue the two-game homestand on Saturday (Dec. 17) when the Jaguars host Eastern Illinois at noon inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped holiday gift to benefit the Ruth Lilly Women's and Children's Center. Those bringing a new, unwrapped toy can receive a FREE ticket for their donation. Or, fans can purchase tickets by
clicking here.
