NEW ALBANY, Ind. – The IU Columbus men's basketball team put up an impressive fight on Tuesday evening, but their efforts fell just short as they dropped a high-scoring, hard-fought game against IU Southeast, 100-96. Despite a stellar shooting performance and standout efforts from key players, the Crimson Pride were unable to overcome a second-half surge by the Grenadiers.
The Crimson Pride came out strong, shooting an efficient 57.6% from the field and 47.8% from beyond the arc. The offense flowed beautifully in the first half, resulting in a 54-48 lead at halftime. Sophomore Owen Law led the charge, finishing with a team-high 27 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. Law was relentless on both ends of the court, making crucial shots and hitting an impressive 8-of-9 from the free throw line.
Joining him in double figures were Damontae Thompson, who scored 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting, and Ben Sylva, who tallied 20 points, including 4 triples on 6 attempts. Off the bench, sophomore Nathan Pickett sparked the offense with 15 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting, providing much-needed depth for the Crimson Pride.
Despite IU Columbus' strong offensive showing, the Grenadiers capitalized on second-chance opportunities, securing 21 offensive rebounds that contributed to a significant advantage in extra possessions. The Grenadiers also turned IU Columbus' 15 turnovers into transition points, proving to be the difference-maker in a tight contest.
Leading the charge for IU Southeast was Lane Lauderbaugh, who dominated with 36 points and 9 rebounds, connecting on clutch free throws and big shots in the second half. Bench contributions, particularly from Nathaniel Hoffman's 19 points, helped the Grenadiers outscore IU Columbus 52-42 in the second half, sealing their come-from-behind victory.
The Crimson Pride struggled to match the Grenadiers' energy on the glass, being outrebounded 42-31, and despite their 85% free-throw shooting, they couldn't overcome Southeast's ability to force turnovers and capitalize.
With this result, IU Columbus falls to 1-16 overall and 0-5 in conference play. The Crimson Pride will look to bounce back as they return home to take on Alice Lloyd College (Ky.) on Saturday, January 18. Tip-off is set for 1:00 PM.
