Jaguars Defense smothers Michigan Tech in 2K Sports Classic Consolation Win
Jaguars hold Huskies to under 26 percent shooting in 65-51 victory

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The IUPUI basketball team gave an inspired defensive effort and held Michigan Tech to under 26 percent shooting on its way to a 65-51 win over the Huskies in the consolation game of the 2K Sports Classic Ann Arbor Regional. Junior forward Jon Avery turned in his second career double-double with 16 points and a career-high 13 rebounds to pace the Jaguars.

Freshman Alex Young added 15 points and sophomore Leroy Nobles scored 11.

However, it was the IUPUI (1-1) defense that held MTU (0-2) to 16-of-62 (25.8 percent) shooting and 5-of-30 (16.7 percent) from beyond the arc that carried the Jaguars to victory over the NCAA Division II foe.

"It's a process with our guys," IUPUI Head Coach Ron Hunter said. "We've got to get back to practice and get better, but I was really happy with what we did defensively. I wish we had 10 days of practice before our next game, but we're going to get back to work and get better.

"I think we're going to have a very good basketball team by (Summit) league time."

On Wednesday night, the Jaguars offense hit an even 50 percent from the field, but managed just 48 attempts because of 24 turnovers. Even after the Jags built a 15-point first half lead, offensive miscues led to Michigan Tech buckets at the other end.

IUPUI's full-court press fueled a 12-0 run that turned a 2-0 deficit into a 12-2 lead, but a 13-1 Michigan Tech burst cut IUPUI's lead to 31-28 with 52 seconds left in the first half. An acrobatic Avery layup off an Adrian Moss assist made it 33-28 at the intermission.

The Jaguars opened the second half with four straight points on two Robert Glenn free throws and a Young jumper to stretch the lead to nine. The Huskies were unable to get any closer than seven the rest of the way.

Robby Springborn, MTU's preseason All-GLIAC guard, scored a team-high 11 points, but was pestered into a 1-of-11 shooting performance. His lone field goal was a long three that banked off the glass with 6:15 to play. Fedrick Bowe added 10 points for the Huskies but was limited to just 18 minutes due to foul trouble.

The longer, more athletic Jaguars controlled the glass by a commanding 47-25 margin. Glenn had six points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots and Nobles grabbed a career-high seven rebounds.

Thirty-nine MTU possessions ended in IUPUI defensive boards.

"We've worked hard in practice on playing strong defensively and getting rebounds," Avery said.

Avery's 13 caroms surpassed his previous high of 10 which he grabbed exactly one year ago against IU South Bend. Coming off a two-point performance, the 6-foot-7 junior hit 7-of-9 shots off the bench and also blocked two shots in 29 minutes work.

Moss had his best game as a collegian, finishing with a career-high eight points and four assists in his first career start.

IUPUI returns to action on Tuesday, Nov. 18 when it travels down State Road 37 to take on Indiana inside Assembly Hall. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m..

That game can be seen on the Big Ten Network or heard in the Indianapolis-area on XL950 as Greg Rakestraw (pbp) enters his ninth season as voice of the Jaguars.