INDIANAPOLIS - The IU Indianapolis men's basketball team will continue its season opening three-game homestand on Saturday (Nov. 7) when the Jaguars host UT-Martin (0-1) on 'Bob Lovell Day' inside James T. Morris Arena. Saturday's game is slated to tip-off at 5:00 p.m. and will be aired locally on My WNDY 23 as Greg Rakestraw (pxp) and Joey Brunk (analyst) describe the action. The day will serve as a celebratory event surrounding longtime head coach, director of athletics and broadcaster Bob Lovell, who piled up 195 wins in 12 seasons on the sidelines and NAIA Tournament berths in 1985 and 1990. 

This year's version of the program is coming off a 113-76 season opening win over Miami-Middletown as junior Peyton Heiss paced five Jaguars in double-digits with 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists in his debut. Junior Kameron Tinsley, one of just two holdovers from last year's team, finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, and sixth-year veteran Gus Etchison added 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting. 

The Jaguars raced out to a quick lead in the wire-to-wire victory, leading by as many as 20 before intermission and 54-37 at the break. IU Indy used a 17-0 run spanning both halves to break the game wide open, capped by back-to-back Heiss and Tinsley treys. The Jaguars connected on 11 threes and delivered 28 assists against just 11 turnovers as eight different Jags had at least two assists. 

The game was a ninth annual partnership with the NCAA to bring elementary students from across Indianapolis to a field trip, culminating in a sellout crowd of 4,000 fans for the James T. Morris Arena opener. 

PROMOTIONS 
As part of 'Bob Lovell Day' on Saturday, the department will recognize longtime AD, head coach, broadcaster and Hall of Famer Bob Lovell at halftime of the game. Numerous alumni are expected to attend Saturday's game and there will be a postgame reception honoring Lovell. 

QUOTABLE
"Yeah, first off, the atmosphere was great having local schools out there was a lot of fun for our players. You know, I don't know approximately how many were there, but it was a fun environment and to actually play in the new arena, it was great. That's something that, you know, I personally have looked forward to since I took this job and I know our players have looked forward to playing here," Howlett said of the season opener inside Morris Arena. 

SCOUTING UT-MARTIN
UT-Martin went 22-11 a season ago and is coming off a season opening 100-98 double overtime loss at Tulane on Nov. 2. 6-foot-5 freshman Kaan Onat (21 points, 13 reb) and 6-foot-11 rookie Sasha Savkov (20 pts, 10 reb) both posted double-doubles in the opener while Devi Remagen scored a team-high 24 points, including five threes. UT-Martin connected on 17 threes but were outscored 40-24 in the paint in the loss. 

INSIDE THE SERIES
IU Indy is just 0-2 all-time against UTM with the only two meetings in the series having come in 1978. UT-Martin won the meeting in Martin, Tenn., on Jan. 14, 1978 by a 63-49 score and then won in Indy, 93-81, on Nov. 25, 1978. 

UP NEXT
The Jaguars will close the three-game homestand on Wednesday (Nov. 11) against Southern Indiana inside James T. Morris Arena at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday's game will be broadcast on MyINDY-TV 23.