FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Sophomore Jlynn Counter scored a game-high 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting and junior Daylan Hamilton added a career-high 14 points, four assists and three steals as the Jaguars staved off Texas A&M Commerce in the finale of the Indiana Classic, 62-52. IUPUI (3-10) shot 51.1 percent from the floor and 50 percent from deep while holding Commerce to just 38.5 percent overall and 2-of-18 (11.1 percent) from three. 

Freshman Vincent Brady II tallied 11 in the victory, including three threes. 

"I'm super proud of our guys. We only played eight guys in this game, but they all contributed and played their role in the win. What I'm most proud of is we didn't panic when things got tight in the second half. We knew they'd make a run at us, but we stuck to the game plan and got (defensive) stops when we needed them," head coach Matt Crenshaw said. "This was a solid win against a solid team and hopefully it'll give us some momentum going into Horizon League play.

"These guys earned this one."

IUPUI imposed its will from the outset, ultimately building a 22-8 lead when Armon Jarrard stroked a corner three, prompting a Lion timeout. Hamilton keyed the offense early with four early assists, including two that led to Brady treys. However, IUPUI led by just four at the break at 32-28. 

Commerce (4-9) scored on its opening two possessions of the second half, including a Demarcus Demonia transition dunk, to tie the score at 32 all. However, as was the case the entire second half, IUPUI refused to relinquish the lead. The teams continued to trade buckets for much of the half with Tommie Lewis pulling Commerce within two with 6:42 to play. However, IUPUI responded with a 12-0 run and held Commerce scoreless without a point for more than five minutes late to seal the win. 

Counter scored seven points during the run, including a tough finish heading into the game's final media timeout, giving the Jags a nine-point lead. 

Jarrard finished with five points and three boards off the bench and Boston Stanton III had four points and a career-high seven rebounds. IUPUI finished having led for 38 of the game's 40 minutes and never trailed in the contest. 

Demonia and Kalen Williams scored a team-high 10 points apiece for Commerce. 

IUPUI will return to Horizon League play after the Christmas holiday, beginning with a New Year's Eve showdown with Northern Kentucky at 2:00 p.m. inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum. That game will be broadcast on ESPN+ as Greg Rakestraw (pxp) and Bob Lovell (analyst) are on the call.