The Online Reflector

The University of Indianapolis men’s basketball team defeated Purdue North Central 96-52 on Nov. 19.

Sophomore guard Miles Mitchell scored eight three-pointers which led to his career-high of 26 points to end the game.

As a team, the Greyhounds made 15 out of 24 shots from behind the arc and shot for 56 percent the entire night.

After the Panthers made two free throws before the game due to an administrative technical foul on UIndy, the Greyhounds won the tip-off  and took the lead, 3-2.

The Greyhounds countered the Panthers’ next five points with a 16-0 run and a score of 19-7.

Mitchell connected on his fifth and sixth three-pointers just 10 minutes into the game.

With just over two and a half minutes left in the first half, Mitchell pushed the Greyhounds’ lead to 33 with two more three-pointers.

Senior guard Adrian Moss hit a mid-range jumper at the buzzer, and UIndy went into the half with a lead of 60-22.

The Greyhounds led the rest of the game. At one point, they led the Panthers by 53 points.

Defensively, UIndy forced 36 turnovers, which included 21 steals.

However, the Greyhounds also turned the ball over 14 times, but still led in points off turnovers, 52-8.

Moss finished the night with a career-high 11 assists, 22 points and five steals.

Junior forward Mikel Brigham had 16 points in his first game of the season, while sophomore guard Jarrett Hamilton scored 11 points.

On Wednesday, Nov. 16, the Greyhounds defeated Cincinnati-Clermont 99-64 in Nicoson Hall.

Moss led with 25 points, nine assists, six steals and three rebounds, along with four other players who scored in double-digits.

“We’re a scoring basketball team,” said Head Coach Stan Gouard. “It’s our backbone. We have strong shooters in Moss, [sophomore guard Reece] Cheatham and Mitchell, who have all done a good job with scoring.”

Along with Moss’ 20 points,  Cheatham added 18 points, including four three-pointers, while senior center Wilbur O’Neal saw a career-high 14 rebounds, along with his 14 points.

Hamilton finished with 20 points for the second game in a row.

“Adrian [Moss] has stepped up and so has Hamilton,” Gouard said. “These guys can score, and that’s what this team is.”

Moss noted how early strengths of this year’s team are shooting and rebounding, while weaknesses include not defending well and committing bad fouls.

Gouard agreed that defense is an issue. He said despite his team’s huge winning margin, he was not satisfied with Wednesday night.

“I wasn’t happy with our performance, but that’s why we coach and that’s why we play,” he said.  “To get better.”

In the season opener on Nov. 12, UIndy defeated the College of  Mount St. Joseph 87-48.

Hamilton led the Greyhounds with a career-high 20 points, along with five rebounds, three assists and two steals. O’Neal scored 17 points and six rebounds.

Sophomore guard/forward Brennan McElroy also recorded a career-high, with 14 points, three steals and two rebounds. Moss finished with 13 points, six steals and four rebounds.

Despite the high score, the team came out slow against the Lions, trailing 16-8 in the beginning of the game.

This was the biggest lead Mount St. Joseph would see and the last time the Greyhounds would  trail in the game, as UIndy responded with a 12-0 run to take the lead.

“We just didn’t come ready to play,” Moss said. “We took them lightly, and they came out aggressive. We were threatened by that, so we started to play like we know we can. We have to come ready no matter who we are playing.”

UIndy continues its season with the Angus Nicoson Basketball Classic, to be held Nov. 25 and 26.

The Greyhounds will face Lake Superior State and Northern Michigan University in the tournament.

“The classic is important because it’s our first Division II test,” Moss said. “It is also very important because both teams are in our region. We need to win both games.”

For Gouard and his team, it’s just another step toward their season goals.

“Every game is a big game for me,” he said. “Every game is a test, and we must stick to the plan. The goal is to have 20-plus wins, win a conference championship and a national championship. Every day we are making strides to get there.”