CHICAGO, Ill. – Indiana Northwest was unable to overcome a dominant first-half performance by Saint Xavier, falling 92-80 in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) contest Saturday afternoon at the Shannon Center.
Anthony Taylor led the RedHawks (16-6, 10-4 CCAC) with 24 points, shooting 7-of-13 from the field and 9-of-11 from the free-throw line. Dannie Smith added 22 points and nine rebounds, while Trace Williams contributed 15 points and five rebounds. Demarius Splunge pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and chipped in seven points, but Indiana Northwest struggled to slow down a Saint Xavier offense that built an early lead and never looked back.
The Cougars (16-6, 11-3 CCAC) set the tone in the first half, erupting for 52 points while connecting on nine three-pointers before the break. Jordan Jackson led all scorers with 31 points, going a perfect 14-for-14 from the free-throw line. Andre Brandon recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Ashton Atwater added 12 points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc. Saint Xavier's outside shooting proved to be the difference, as they finished 12-of-25 (48%) from three-point range.
Indiana Northwest trailed 52-33 at halftime but found its rhythm in the second half, outscoring Saint Xavier 47-40 over the final 20 minutes. The RedHawks cut the deficit to single digits midway through the period behind an 8-2 run led by Taylor and Smith, but the Cougars responded with timely baskets and strong free-throw shooting to maintain control.
The RedHawks shot 43.3% from the field but struggled from beyond the arc, converting just 3-of-19 (15.8%) attempts. Despite winning the rebounding battle 43-41, Indiana Northwest was unable to capitalize on second-chance opportunities, finishing with just nine points off offensive rebounds compared to Saint Xavier's 19.
Indiana Northwest will look to bounce back at home on Wednesday, Feb. 5, when they host Olivet Nazarene at the Savannah Center. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. CT.
Recap by PJ Katona
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