USAFA, Colo. - The IU Indianapolis men's basketball team will return to action on Friday afternoon (Nov. 20) when the Jaguars take on Alabama State (2-3) in their opening game of the Air Force Classic at 12:00 p.m. MT (2 Eastern). Head coach Ben Howlett's team looks to return to winning ways on Friday after opening the current three-game trip with a 103-91 road loss at Charleston Southern. Junior Kyler D'Augustino pumped in a season-high 28 points on 12-of-16 shooting and JP Dragas came off the bench with 15 points. Sophomore Aiden Miller added a season-high eight rebounds. 

Offensively, the Jaguars committed a season-low four turnovers, but shot just 42 percent while CSU shot 58 percent overall and 17-of-39 (45.8 percent) from three-point range, helping offset 17 turnovers. 

IU Indy (2-4) remains the fastest tempo in the country according to KenPom.com, pacing well ahead of the next quickest, Cal Poly and Oklahoma State. Through six games, the Jaguars are scoring 95.7 points per game and averaging 13.3 more field goal attempts per game than their opponents. The Jags boast a +6.3 turnover margin per game and rank fifth in the country in steals (12.8 spg). Fifth-year guard Matt Compas is tied for 13th nationally at 3.2 steals per game. 

On Tuesday, IU Indy surged out to a quick 11-2 lead, only to see Charleston Southern turn the tables and build a 26-point lead just before halftime. The Jaguars fought back to cut the lead back to eight in the closing minutes before ultimately falling by 12. Besides D'Augustino and Dragas' double-digit efforts, reigning Horizon League Freshman of the Week Maguire Mitchell (13 points) and Compas (11 points, three steals) also finished in double-digits. 

SCOUTING ALABAMA STATE
Alabama State enters play at 2-3 after falling to Air Force in a 66-64 defeat on Wednesday night (Nov. 19). ASU owns early season wins over UAB and Virginia-Lynchburg while the three losses have come against Florida State, Colorado and Air Force. For the year, Alabama State is shooting 43.2 percent from the floor and 34.2 percent from deep. ASU relies on a 1-2 punch of Micah Simpson (17.0 ppg, 2.8 3's/game) and Asjon Anderson (16.6 ppg, 4.2 apg) to pilot the offense. 

INSIDE THE SERIES
Friday's game marks the first-ever meeting between IU Indy and Alabama State on the hardwood. 

UP NEXT
The Jaguars will complete play at the Air Force Classic on Sunday (Nov. 23) against host Air Force.