KOKOMO, Ind. - The IU Kokomo men's basketball team defeated Midway University by a score of 86-59 on Thursday night. This was the Cougars first conference victory of the season, bringing their RSC record to 1-2 and 9-2 overall.

The Cougars struck first on a jump shot from Ty Wills a mere 15 seconds into the game. Midway struggled to find their offensive footing, allowing IUK to jump out to a 12-1 lead just over five minutes in.

Layups from Max Newman and Joseph Annan Jr. put the Cougars ahead 18-12 by the midpoint of the first half. From here, IUK started a relentless offensive surge, taking a 32-18 lead with five minutes remaining in the period.

In the final moments of the half, the offensive dominance continued from Ty Wills, who finished the first half with 21 points to give IU Kokomo a huge 50-27 lead at halftime.

Early in the second half, layups from Max Newman and Noah Harris increased the IU Kokomo lead to 25. Midway continued to fall behind, trailing by 27 with 10 minutes remaining and 31 by the five minute mark.

The Eagles did see some offensive life in the final moments, but the IUK lead proved to be insurmountable. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Cougars had completed a dominant 86-59 victory, earning their first conference win of the season.

Ty Wills led the Cougars with 22 points in the victory. Noah Harris and Max Newman each recorded 12-rebound double-doubles, as Harris scored 13 and Newman added 12.

The Cougars will be back in action next Wednesday evening for a road non-conference game against the Red Hawks of IU Northwest.

For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.