MBB: IPFW Loses At Lowly Chicago State

CHICAGO - Leading by nine in the second half, Chicago State out-scored IPFW 17-2 over the final four minutes, clinching the 63-57 Cougar victory at the Jones Convocation Center on Tuesday evening.

Trey McCorkle scored 14 points in the second half, and 21 for the game, while Frank Gaines scored 16, nine in the second frame while dishing out a career-high four assists in the losing effort.

McCorkle grabbed six rebounds, and Michael Kibiloski five as the Mastodons were out-rebounded 36-to-29 in the contest. Gaines' four assists tied for a game-high, while five 'Dons, Jonny Marlin , John Peckinpaugh , Antwaun Boyd , Kibiloski, and Joe Edwards each gave out two helpers in the loss.

The Mastodons jumped ahead early, trailing only at 4-3 1:40 into the game. The Mastodon first-half lead grew to as many as eight after a Gaines three-pointer; however, Gaines' make sparked a Cougar run, as the hosts scored seven straight points, capped by a dunk from D'Jari Nelson.

John Peckinpaugh ended the run with a pair of free throws, pushing the IPFW lead back to three at 24-21, but the Mastodons would get out-scored 8-2 over the rest of the half, as CSU ended the first half on a 15-4 over the final 7:37 of the period, taking a three-point, 29-26 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Chicago State fought in the second half, and held a two-point, 43-41 lead with 10:33 to play before the Mastodons rattled off nine straight points, six from McCorkle before Gaines capped the run with a three-point basket with 6:27 left, giving IPFW a seven-point, 50-43 lead.

The Mastodons pushed the advantage to as many as nine with 4:19 to play on a Kibiloski free throw; however, that would be the last IPFW point until the waning moments of the game.

The Cougars made their final six shots from the field, including three three-point baskets, out-scoring the 'Dons 17-2 over the final 3:55 to clinch the six-point victory.

The Mastodons made 20-of-50 shots for the contest, while converting on 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) from long range, and 13-of-20 (65.0%) from the charity stripe. Chicago State went 21-of-50 from the field, 9-of-21 from long range (42.9 percent) and 12-of-16 (75 percent) from the free throw line.

IPFW held CSU leading scorer Jeremy Robinson to just six points in the game; however, Lee Fisher scored 19 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, as Jacobby Anderson scored 11 and Ardarius Simmons 10.

The Mastodons keep on the road, as the squad travels to Rochester, Mich. to take on the Golden Grizzlies of Oakland University in a noon tip-off.