SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Trailing by as much as 17 in the second half, No. 25 IU South Bend nearly completed the comeback on Friday night, fighting back but finishing just short in a 98-97 loss to No. 4 William Penn (Iowa) at the Student Activities Center.
The Titans (3-2) closed the game on a 26-10 run over the final seven minutes, but were unable to get a shot off on the final possession in the closing seconds. Five players finished in double-figures for IUSB, led by Donyell Meredith and his career-high 27 points. Dylan Allen scored 23 points, with 13 coming in the second half rally.
The Statesmen (4-0) led throughout most of the first half, going up by as much as 13 by the 12:56 mark, 22-9. Eight unanswered points midway through the half helped the Titans trim the deficit back down to five, 24-19 with 10:23 left on the clock. A few minutes later, a run of 14 straight points for the Titans gave the home team their first lead of the night, following a steal from Allen and a fast-break layup by Kenny Washington put the Titans ahead 30-29.
Allen's three-pointer at the 7:35 mark gave the Titans their largest lead of the first half, 33-29, but William Penn would out-score IUSB through the rest of the period, with a three at the halftime buzzer giving them a 52-46 advantage.
William Penn slowly built their lead in the second half, until a layup with just under eight minutes to play put them ahead, 86-69. A three-pointer from Micah Poole started a ten-point Titan run, capped by Sergio Diaz's steal and dunk with five and a half minutes left. A Statesmen turnover followed by Meredith's layup with 2:47 left tied the game at 90-90, before Miles Tracy put IUSB on top with a put-back score thirty seconds later.
A key put-back from Sam Snodgrass with thirty seconds to play gave the Titans a three-point advantage, but after trading free throws, William Penn would answer with a go-ahead three-pointer with 11 seconds left on the clock. The Titans' opportunity for a game-winner wouldn't be seen, as the offense was unable to get a shot off at the buzzer.
The Titans will have another opportunity to hit the court soon, as they host St. Mary-of-the-Woods at the Student Activities Center tomorrow. Tipoff with the Pomeroys on November 13 is set for 3:00 p.m.
