SOUTH BEND, Ind.- The Indiana University South Bend Titans (8-8, 5-3 CCAC) defeated the Saint Ambrose University Fighting Bees (11-4, 4-4 CCAC) by a final score of 91-73 to move into sole possession of third place in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Back and forth through the beginning of the first half, a Nick Mullen made three moved the Titans to within just one of the Fighting Bees before a quick 8-0 spurt gave them a lead of 23-15, a lead that they would hold onto for the remainder of the game.
IU South Bend closed off the first half outscoring Saint Ambrose 23-19 to take a 45-35 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.
Saint Ambrose came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders, getting to within three points at 51-48 before the Titans added another quick burst, rattling off 10 straight points to grow a 61-50 lead nearly halfway through the first half.
One last run by the Fighting Saints brought them to within two points at 66-64 before IU South Bend quickly put a stop to it with a 13-5 run of their own.
The last hasp for Saint Ambrose was not enough as the Indiana University South Bend Titans went on to beat the Fighting Bees by a final score of 91-73.
A hot IU South Bend offense featured three scorers to record double figures, led by senior forward Jylen Petty who finished with a career high 29 points.
Petty’s 29 points came on 60% shooting from the field (9-15) while knocking down six three point field goals, one shy of tying his career high, while also playing in a game high 35 minutes.
Another Titan to score in double figures was forward Shawn Brown who also finished with a Titan career high of 17 points.
Brown’s 17 points came on just two missed shots (7-9) while putting the final touches on the contest with a monster dunk.
The last Titan to record double figures in the scoring column was forward Nick Mullen who finished with 11 points.
Mullen’s 11 points came on just six field goal attempts while recording double digit rebounds again, helping him posting his team leading seventh double-double of the season.