COLUMBUS, Ind. - The IU Columbus men's basketball team fell to a high-powered Oakland City squad, 98-82, in a tough home loss, Saturday afternoon at NexusPark. Despite strong individual performances from a few players, IU Columbus struggled to match the offensive firepower of Oakland City, especially in the first half, where they were outscored 52-34.
The game started with IU Columbus facing an uphill battle, as they struggled to find their rhythm early on. The team shot just 47.5% from the field in the game, and their three-point shooting was even more problematic, as they managed only 34.6% (9-of-26).
The first half saw Oakland City take control, thanks to their hot shooting and offensive flow. IU Columbus couldn't seem to get enough stops, and although they were able to keep it close early, they found themselves trailing by 18 points at halftime. The defense, which had been a strength in earlier games, couldn't contain the sharp-shooting Mighty Oaks.
In the second half, the Crimson Pride played with more urgency, outscoring Oakland City 48-46, but the deficit was ultimately too much to overcome. Despite a better shooting performance in the second frame, including a slight uptick from three-point range (4-of-10), they still couldn't make up for their early struggles.
Damontae Thompson proved to be a bright spot for IU Columbus, finishing with 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting and grabbing 8 rebounds. His all-around effort was crucial in keeping his team in the game, as he also went 6-of-7 from the free-throw line.
Owen Law contributed 19 points and 2 rebounds, leading the team in scoring. He had an efficient shooting night, going 8-of-12 from the field, though Law's shooting from beyond the arc (1-of-4) left something to be desired.
Ben Sylva, while struggling with his shooting, particularly from deep (2-of-7), still added 11 points to the total, helping the team stay competitive through a tough second half.
The bench also contributed, with Bobby Wonnell scoring 10 points, coming from a perfect 4-of-4 performance from the free-throw line and two made three-pointers (2-of-4). However, the bench's overall impact wasn't enough to cover for the team's defensive lapses or the shooting woes that plagued the game.
One of the key issues for IU Columbus in the game was their inability to knock down shots from three-point range. While Oakland City shot an impressive 47.4% from beyond the arc (9-of-19), IU Columbus managed just 9-of-26 (34.6%). The inability to stretch the floor allowed Oakland City to pack the paint and neutralize the inside game, forcing IU Columbus to settle for contested outside shots.
However, one area where the Crimson Pride did excel was in free-throw shooting. They finished 17-of-19 (89.5%) from the charity stripe, compared to Oakland City's 17-of-24 (70.8%). While this helped them keep the score from getting out of hand, it wasn't enough to make up for the deficit on the scoreboard.
On the boards, Gavin Dowling was a key contributor, grabbing 10 rebounds (2 offensive, 8 defensive) in his 21 minutes of action. Despite his efforts, IU Columbus was still out-rebounded by Oakland City (39-29), which further hampered their ability to control the game.
Despite the loss, the second-half performance showed that IU Columbus has the potential to compete with talented teams, especially those in the conference. The Crimson Pride can look to build on this effort as they near the halfway point of their schedule and prepare for the rest of their conference match-ups.
The Crimson Pride return to action Thursday, December 19, where they face Marian University (Ind.), on the road. Tip-off is set for 7:00pm.
