The Online Reflector

The University of Indianapolis men’s basketball team fell to Indiana University 90-72 in its exhibition game on Nov. 5.

Senior guard Adrian Moss put up 22 points, leading all players in the game. He also had four assists and two rebounds. His teammate, sophomore guard Reece Cheatham finished with 15 points and three rebounds.

UIndy started the game on a 4-3 lead but IU took the lead back with a 5-1 run.

IU would keep the lead while UIndy trailed at the half, 50-35.

The Greyhounds did not come any closer than 12 points in the second half but they held IU to a low shooting percentage.

The Greyhounds have defeated several DI schools in exhibition games in the past under Head Coach Stan Gouard’s guidance. The team defeated Valparaiso in 2009 and Tennessee in 2010.

According to Gouard, DI schools are always looking for DII schools to play against for exhibitions games. IU Head Coach Tom Crean and Gouard had a basketball-related history prior to Saturday’s game.

“Over the course of the past couple of years, Coach Crean and I have had a lot in common,” Gouard said. “We were actually hired on the same day. When I was hired here, he was hired at IU. He recruited me while I was in junior college, and we stayed in touch over the past few years and shared some ideas.”

Although the exhibition game may not have counted towards the Greyhounds’ record, Gouard said that he prepared his team for a third-year exhibition win against a DI school.

“It’s always good to get a win against anybody you can beat. It’s a competitive sport and to go down and play IU, first of all, is an honor to play with those guys, but at the same time, we’re going to go down there and play and have a good showing,” Gouard said.

With the addition of a few new faces since last year, Gouard said that there is still a lot to work on. But at the same time, he expects his team “to be basketball players and make basketball plays.”

In order to prepare for the game, Gouard said it was important to be mentally involved, especially for the younger guys. For the freshmen, the game at Assembly Hall was their first taste of what Gouard referred to as “the big lights.”

Moss said that although the game at IU was his second time playing at Assembly Hall, he understood how exciting that could be for his younger teammates.

“I’m just excited to be back there for a second time,” Moss said. “The atmosphere there is great, and there’s always a good crowd.”

Moss said that he prepared for the game by watching film and putting in the hard work mentally to get ready for the game.

“That’s where I get my confidence; by putting in the work and not just relying on talent,” Moss said.

According to Gouard, it was also important to be prepared physically in the week leading up to the game.

“The main thing is making good plays from a defensive and offensive aspect,” he said. “We have to go into it with the right attitude.”

Gouard said he believes that with what the team has done thus far, but he knows that there are still some improvements to be made before the team’s first regular season game.

UIndy will host the College of Mount St. Joseph on Nov. 12 at Nicoson Hall.