KOKOMO, Ind. - The IU Kokomo men's basketball team improved to 2-0 in home games Saturday, taking care of Olivet Nazarene 89-74 thanks to a strong-second half and 35 points from senior forward Max Newman.

Head coach Eric Echelbarger's squad is now 4-2 on the year, picking up a home win over a proven Olivet Nazarene program.

IU Kokomo and Olivet Nazarene played a tightly-contested opening 20 minutes, as the two sides were even at 15 with 12:44 remaining in the first half, while the Cougars held a narrow 23-20 lead at the under-10 media timeout.

The Cougars extended their lead to seven on several occasions in the final 10 minutes of the first half, but the Tigers were pesky and trailed IUK 41-37 at the half.

Coach Echelbarger and staff had the Cougars locked in from the jump in the second half, quickly making taking a commanding double-digit lead that would not be relinquished.

IU Kokomo's lead ballooned to as many as 22 at two points in the second half, as the Cougars closed out another home non-conference win 89-74 over Olivet Nazarene (Ill.).

Newman's game-high 35 points are a collegiate career-high, pairing that with 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Max dominated the paint Saturday night, proving to be a big reason why the Cougars outscored the Tigers 58-34 in points in the paint. 

Evan Kretz had 17 points and was 3-5 from three-point range, while Joseph Annan Jr. had 11 points in 19 minutes of action off of the bench. 

The Cougars are next in action next Saturday, November 30th, as they will open up "The Show", a two-day showcase in Kingsport, Tennesee, with a battle against Campbellsville (Ky.).

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.