PORTSMOUTH, Ohio. - The IU Kokomo men's basketball team saw its 18-game winning streak end Saturday afternoon on the road, falling 67–62 at (RV) Shawnee State after rallying from a 14-point halftime deficit to take a late lead.
FAST FACTS - 67-62 loss at Shawnee State
- LOCATION: Waller Gymnasium | Portsmouth, Ohio
- UPDATED RECORDS: IU Kokomo - 19-3 (9-1), Shawnee State- 18-4 (10-0)
- NAIA TOP-25 RANKINGS: IU Kokomo - #25, Shawnee State - RV
THE RUNDOWN
- Shawnee State held an early lead before IU Kokomo took its first lead of the game with 15:02 remaining in the first half. The Cougars and Bears battled closely until Shawnee State closed the half on a 12–2 run to take a 38–24 lead into halftime.
- Veteran head coach Eric Echelbarger's squad came out of halftime with energy, cutting a 14-point deficit to just four less than five minutes into the second half, sparked by a pair of three-pointers from Patric Matson. The Cougars pulled within two shortly after but couldn't retake the lead, as the Bears rebuilt a modest, single-digit cushion.
- Trailing 58–54 with 4:30 to play, IU Kokomo scored six straight points to take a two-point lead, their first since the 13:25 mark of the first half. After Shawnee State tied it on the next possession, Alonzo Clawson-Smith drew a foul and converted two free throws. The Cougars, however, went cold down the stretch, and the Bears outscored IU Kokomo 7–0 in the final 1:40 to claim a 67–62 victory in the River States Conference showdown of unbeaten teams.
LEADING THE CHARGE
- In a low-scoring, scrappy affair, Alonzo Clawson-Smith paced four Cougars in double figures with 13 points, going a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line to offset a 3-for-10 shooting night. He also contributed nine rebounds and four assists.
- Joseph Annan Jr. added 12 points and five rebounds, marking his 17th double-figure game of the season.
- Jake McGraw and Patric Matson combined to go a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line despite a rough day from the field, with McGraw finishing with 11 points, seven rebounds, and three assists, and Matson adding 10 points and three rebounds.
THE ROAD AHEAD
- Next Game: 2/3 at Oakland City - 7:00 PM ET
- Next Home Game: 2/7 vs Midway - 3:00 PM
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
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