NOTRE DAME, Ind. – After being forced to take 85 days off due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 15-seed Indiana University South Bend (3-0) men's basketball team outlasted crosstown rival and two-seeded Holy Cross (RV), 67-66, in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference opening round on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at the Pfeil Center.

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The Titans led wire-to-wire and went into the break up 14 before the Saints held IU South Bend scoreless for over five minutes and pulled within four. Holy Cross took its first and only lead of the game with 4:25 on the clock until senior Dylan Allen hit a clutch three to tie the game at 63 apiece.

A pair of buckets by Donyell Meredith and Miles Tracy down the stretch helped the Titans seal the victory and extend their winning streak to 11 games. IUSB and head coach Scott Cooper are now winners of four straight CCAC Tournament games.  

Allen led the Titans with 14 points, added by 5-for-9 showing from the field while dishing out a game-high five assists. Meredith added 13 points to go along with five rebounds. Additionally, Tracy notched 11 points, three assists and a game-high eight rebounds while senior Norell Smith added 10 points and six rebounds.

Overall the Titans shot 45.6 percent from the floor and 41.7 percent from three-point range. ISUB was also a little shaky from the free throw line, converting just five-of-eight freebies. Holy Cross finished the game 45.6 from the field and 38.9 from beyond the arc.

The Titans held a 33-27 edge in rebounding while each team grabbed four steals. IU South Bend held the slight 6-2 advantage in second chance points while both scored 30 in the paint on Tuesday evening.

The Titans return to action Thursday, Feb. 25, as IUSB travels to seventh seeded Lincoln College in Lincoln, Ill. for the CCAC quarterfinals. The Lynx defeated 10-seed Roosevelt University 66-60 on Tuesday evening.