‘Hounds top the Oilers
Junior DeWann Squires shoots a free throw during the Greyhounds’ season opening win against Mount St. Joseph. The team is currently 2-1 overall.
By Adrian Kendrick | Editor-in-Chief
Indianapolis defeated No. 4 Findlay Nov. 21 by a score of 71-63. The Oilers saw their 38-game winning streak, including going unbeaten last year on their way to a national championship, snapped thanks to the defensive performance of UIndy.
The Greyhounds held Findlay to 35 percent shooting, holding Findlay’s Nathan Hyde without a three-point field goal in the second-half.
Offensively, four players scored double digits with junior point guard Darius Adams pacing all scorers with 19 points to go along with his 10 boards and five assists.
Junior forward DeWann Squires dropped in 18, senior center Larry Woods scored 14 and Nate Blank chipped in 10.
The ‘Hounds bounced back from the loss to the Southern Illinois Salukis on Nov. 17, losing 84-69 at SIU Arena. Adams led the team with 21 points, with four Greyhounds scoring in the double figures.
Head coach Stan Guard said that this year’s team features more consistent scorers.
“Last year we only had one guy that was a consistent scorer and that was Keith Radcliff. I feel like this year we have at least three or four guys that can score,” Gouard said . “We’re a better shooting team this year. If we continue to have inside presence the sky is the limit to how well we shoot the basketball this year.”
Normally the ‘Hounds play SIU in the pre-season, but this year they faced the NCAA Division I team during the regular season. According to senior guard Devin Williams the team had a chance to show they are capable of playing at that level.
“I liked the challenge,” Williams said. “Most people think that Division II schools can’t play with Division I, and most of the time that is not the case. The team played hard and we played together. That’s all you can ask for. We made some mistakes that cost us the game, but we will learn from that and take steps in the right direction.”
The ‘Hounds opened its season Nov. 14 with a 79-60 win over Mount St. Joseph at Nicoson Hall. According to the Athletics Web site, the team used a 24-4 run in the second half to pull away and post the win. All 12 Greyhounds that dressed saw action that night.
Athletic Director Sue Willey said this year Gouard has created team chemistry.
“The kids are coming and grabbing on to his philosophy,” Willey said. “Each year they are becoming more his team and his expectations will move us in the right direction.”
According to sophomore guard Paul Corsraro, Gouard focuses on making practice more challenging to make the team tougher, and that work ethic is carried over to the games.
“[Gouard] doesn’t accept anything but our best,” Corsaro said. “It allows us to reach our full potential.”
According to Gouard, practice is a boot camp where he finds ways to help the guys be successful. By having challenging practices, during the games it’s more natural to get the team in the right mindset. This year, Gouard recruited a lot of transfer and freshman students in hopes to better the UIndy basketball program.
“He’s recruiting students that represent UIndy with pride and passion and that can play some good solid basketball,” Willey said. “I think we may surprise some people this year.”
UIndy will travel to Ohio for a contest with Urbana University today at 3 p.m., the final test prior to beginning GLVC play Dec. 3 when the Norse of Northern Kentucky visit Nicoson Hall.
