WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – The Indiana University Northwest men's basketball team saw its season come to a heartbreaking close in a double-overtime battle, falling 99-91 to Mobile (Ala.) in the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament First Round on Friday afternoon in Williamsburg, Kentucky.
The RedHawks (22-8) held a double-digit lead midway through the second half but could not hold off a late rally from the Rams, who outscored IU Northwest 14-6 in the second overtime to advance to the next round.
Dannie Smith powered IU Northwest with a dominant double-double performance, finishing with 22 points and a game-high 18 rebounds while playing 46 minutes. Senior Trace Williams capped off his career with an all-around effort, tallying 21 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Fellow senior Anthony Taylor also poured in 21 points and grabbed five boards while adding three blocks and two steals.
Caleb Jenkins added 19 points and 12 rebounds, connecting on all five of IU Northwest's made 3-pointers, and Demarius Splunge contributed four points and four rebounds.
IU Northwest led 33-31 at halftime and built its largest lead of the game — a 13-point advantage — with just over 12 minutes remaining in regulation. However, Mobile chipped away, fueled by key contributions from their bench and clutch shooting from BJ Comer and Jarvis Moss. The Rams tied the game late in regulation and again forced a second overtime after both teams scored 12 points in the first extra period.
Despite controlling the glass with a 51-46 rebounding advantage and outscoring Mobile 56-38 in the paint, the RedHawks struggled at the free-throw line, shooting just 53.3 percent (16-for-30) for the game and 40 percent (4-for-10) in overtime. They also shot 39.8 percent from the field and only 22.7 percent (5-for-22) from beyond the arc.
Mobile (22-7) was led by Comer's game-high 24 points, along with four assists and five rebounds. Moss provided a huge spark off the bench, scoring 21 points, including four 3-pointers, while Adarius Oliver added 13 points and seven rebounds. Trent Moye contributed 13 points and six rebounds for a Rams team that shot 42.9 percent from the field and 35.7 percent (10-for-28) from three-point range. Mobile's bench outscored IU Northwest's reserves 38-4.
The RedHawks' defense forced 14 turnovers and scored 14 points off those takeaways but could not withstand Mobile's late surge. The Rams made several key shots down the stretch and hit 7-of-8 free throws in double overtime to seal the victory.
With the loss, IU Northwest wraps up a memorable 2024-25 campaign that included a 22-8 overall record, a share of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) regular season championship, and a second straight trip to the NAIA National Tournament. The RedHawks also posted several marquee victories during the season and established themselves as one of the top teams in the CCAC.
Friday's contest marked the final appearance for seniors Trace Williams, Dannie Smith, Anthony Taylor, Demarius Splunge, Jaylen Jennings, and Max Otterbacher, all of whom leave behind an enduring legacy of leadership, dedication, and success within the IU Northwest program.
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