PORTSMOUTH, Ohio – In a spirited performance on the road, IU Columbus (1-18, 0-7 RSC) gave Shawnee State (9-10, 4-3 RSC) all they could handle but ultimately fell short, 81-73. The Crimson Pride led at halftime but couldn't hold off a late surge by the Bears, who capitalized on second-half momentum to claim the win.
IU Columbus came out strong in the first half, using solid defense and sharp scoring from sophomore Damontae Thompson, who stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 steals. Deylon Johnson, making his Crimson Pride debut, led to the offense, pouring in a gam-high 24 points. They finished the first 20 minutes ahead 32-30, bolstered by efficient shooting (50.0% FG) and tough play in the paint.
The game turned in the second half when Shawnee State heated up, outscoring IU Columbus 51-41. Despite stellar play from Owen Law, who added 21 points, shooting 8-16 from the field, the Crimson Pride struggled to contain Shawnee State's balanced attack.
Shawnee State's forward Cory Gardner led the Bears with 23 points while recording a dominant double-double with 10 rebounds and 5 assists. Point guard Tre Beard came up clutch from the free-throw line, hitting 8-8 as part of his 17-point performance. The Bears also capitalized on IU Columbus' turnovers, turning 12 miscues into critical points.
Though IU Columbus shot well from the field overall, their 3-point shooting (3-16, 18.8%) and free-throw struggles (4-7, 57.1%) made it difficult to keep pace with Shawnee State's consistency at the line (17-22, 77.3%).
Despite the loss, there were positives for IU Columbus, as multiple players made impactful contributions on both ends of the floor. The Crimson Pride demonstrated grit and determination, holding Shawnee State to just 2-14 shooting from three-point range while competing hard on the boards.
IU Columbus will look to bounce back on their second stop of the weekend at the University of Rio Grande. The Crimson Pride will look to notch their first win in conference play against the nationally ranked RedStorm. Tip-off is set for 1:00 PM.
