IUN News
Tue, Jan 3, 2012 - [Men's Basketball]

RedHawks Valiant Comeback Effort Falls Short

By Brian Snow
 
(Gary, IN) Reggie Smith came off the bench to score 17 points to help the NAIA-ranked Tigers withstand 16 points from Justin Latimore and a furious RedHawk charge in the second half to escape with a 64-61 win on Friday night at the Savannah Center.
 
Jeff Ennis added 14 points for the Tigers while Malik Thomas had 11 points and 4 rebounds to assist in the win. The win moved the Tigers to 11-3 on the season.
 

Latimore's 16 paced the ‘Hawks attack while Don Davenport made a triumphant return to the lineup by adding 14 points and 8 rebounds in the effort. One-time player of the week Baile Barnett added 12 points and Adam White tallied 11 points in the effort. White connected on 3-of-8 from long distance.

"We had a bad two minute stretch in the first half and a bad five minute stretch in the second half. Against good teams like Campbellsville the margin for error is very small. I like the progress our team is making" Said first-year head coach Jason Hawkins.

"The biggest turning point for us was the night before in the second half against Lindsey Wilson who is ranked in the NAIA top-15. We came together as a team and it carried over in the game against Campbellsville." Hawkins added.
 
For the game, the Tigers shot 42 percent from the field while limiting the RedHawks to 39 percent from the floor. The RedHawks forced 10 turnovers while committing 12 turnovers of their own. The Tigers were 7-22 from long distance while the RedHawks were 5-16 with two treys apiece from Latimore and White. Sam Bellamy connected for the other triple.
 

But it was the rebounds where the Hawks suffered as they allowed 15 offensive rebounds while collecting only seven and total rebounds were to the advantage of the Tigers 46-31.

The loss dropped IU Northwest's record to 2-12 overall and they have dropped their last seven contests.
 

The RedHawks hit the road for two games as they travel to the University of Toledo on Tuesday January 3rd and then to Brescia University on January 4th before taking a week off and returning back to the Roost on January 11th against Roosevelt University.