Titans Punch Ticket to CCAC Championship Game With Semifinal Win Over St. Ambrose
SOUTH BEND – With a trip to the CCAC Championship on the line, IU South Bend answered every challenge Thursday night, defeating St. Ambrose 74-65 in a thrilling semifinal at the Student Activities Center. The win sends the Titans (23-7) to Saturday’s title game against top-seeded Olivet Nazarene.
Senior forward Tenleigh Phelps, who has anchored the program all season, fueled the victory with a massive 25-point, 14-rebound double-double. After the game, Phelps described what continues to drive the Titans:
“Everything is always about energy and we have preached the whole season, if you mess up, move on. It’s so special to be able to have a team like this.”
IUSB controlled the opening frame with its defense, holding the Bees to 10 first-quarter points and forcing several early turnovers. Phelps scored nine in the period, and the Titans held an early nine-point cushion behind key buckets from Aubrie Booker and Kenzie Fulks.
St. Ambrose found its rhythm in the second quarter, hitting 75 percent from three (3-for-4) in the period and chipping away at the margin. A late SAU run brought the game within a single possession, and IUSB entered halftime with a narrow 37-33 lead.
The Bees carried that momentum into the third and tied the game 40-40 at the 5:49 mark after a triple. But the Titans had the perfect response.
Aubrie Booker, who played all 40 minutes, delivered back-to-back buckets — first a driving layup, then a three-pointer — to push the lead back to five. Moments later, Bradie Chambers knifed in for a layup to aid an 11-2 run that reestablished control at 51-42.
The Titans carried a two-possession lead into the fourth, but St. Ambrose refused to go away. The Bees pulled within two points at both the 4:45 and 2:42 marks, finding baskets to stay in the fight.
Each time, IU South Bend answered.
With SAU closing in at 62-60, Fulks confidently drilled a long ball to extend the lead back to five. The next possession, Phelps powered through contact for a layup at 1:28, rebuilding the margin to seven.
From there, the Titans’ poise at the free-throw line sealed the win. IUSB went 7-for-8 at the stripe in the final minute, including critical makes from Fulks and Chambers, to close out the semifinal victory.
“I think that we have proved throughout the season that when we are playing IU South Bend basketball, we are the best team in the league,” added Phelps.
Stat Leaders
Tenleigh Phelps: 25 points, 14 rebounds, 2 steals
Aubrie Booker: 17 points, 2 steals, 40 minutes played
Bradie Chambers: 15 points, 4 rebounds
Kenzie Fulks: 13 points, 5 assists
Keylee Hudson: 4 points, 7 rebounds
The Titans’ starting five combined to score all 74 points, and IUSB owned the paint with a 42–26 advantage.
With the semifinal win secured, IU South Bend now turns its focus to Saturday’s CCAC Championship showdown with No. 1 Olivet Nazarene — with a conference title and a national tournament berth on the line.