SOUTH BEND, Ind.- The Indiana University South Bend Titans (22-8, 15-5 CCAC) defeated the Roosevelt University Lakers (25-4, 18-2 CCAC) by a final score of 72-70 in the CCAC semifinals.
Friday's two-point win advances the Titans to the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship where they will take on the Indiana University Northwest RedHawks.
IU South Bend fell in an early hole, trailing 7-0 with less than five minutes gone in the first half before a 13-3 run gave them the lead at 13-10.
Still, the Lakers answered, ending the first half on a 29-13 run to take a 39-26 lead heading into halftime.
Trailing by 10 points with less than 10 minutes to play in the game, a made free throw by Dejon Barney cut the IU South Bend deficit to single digits.
Forward Jylen Petty's season high seventh made three point field goal tied the game at 67-67 with three minutes remaining in Friday's CCAC semifinal.
A made basket by the Lakers gave them the lead back before Terry Ford's two clutch field goals tied the game at 70-70.
A block by Sam Snodgrass gave the Titans the ball back, setting the scene for Terry Ford's game winning layup with four seconds left to play.
A last second missed three pointer by Roosevelt sealed the Titans a two point victory and a trip to the CCAC Conference Tournament Championship.
Three IU South Bend Titans finished with double digits in the scoring column, led by junior forward Jylen Petty who finished with his IUSB career high 25 points.
Petty's 25 points came on better than 50% shooting from the field (8-14) while falling just two three pointers (7-9) shy of tying the IU South Bend record for made three point field goals in a game.
The next Titan to score in double figures was senior forward Dejon Barney who finished with 18 points.
Barney's 18 points came on better than 50% shooting from the field (5-9) while sinking a season high eight free throws. Barney also secured 14 rebounds for his team leading 15th double-double of the season.
The last Titan to record double figures in the scoring column was guard Terry Ford who finished with 12 points.
Ford's 12 points came on nearly 50% shooting from the field (5-11) while also dishing out seven assists and sinking the two game tying free throws and the game winning layup.
The Indiana University South Bend Titans return to action on Monday, March 4th when they travel to Gary, Ind., to take on the Indiana University Northwest RedHawks at 7:00 PM ET for the CCAC Conference Tournament Championship.
