KOKOMO, Ind. — The IU Kokomo men's basketball team opened the 2026-27 season in impressive fashion Wednesday evening, cruising to a 106-80 victory over the University of Michigan-Dearborn at the Student Activities & Events Center. The Cougars showcased an efficient offensive attack in their season debut, with three players surpassing the 20-point mark.
IU Kokomo (1-0) shot an outstanding 61.1% from the field, connecting on 44 of 72 attempts while holding Michigan-Dearborn (1-2) to 41.2% shooting. The Cougars dominated the interior, outscoring the Wolverines 64-22 in the paint and holding a commanding 48-24 rebounding advantage.
Jake McGraw led the way with a 22-point, 15-rebound double-double, while
Joseph Annan Jr. and
Hudson Horvath each contributed 21 points.
First Half
- IU Kokomo wasted little time establishing its offensive presence, opening the contest with consecutive baskets from Cooper Jackson and Jake McGraw. McGraw followed with a three-pointer to give the Cougars an early 9-3 advantage, setting the tone for an impressive opening half.
- Michigan-Dearborn remained within striking distance during the opening minutes, trimming the deficit to 13-10 before IU Kokomo began creating separation. Contributions from McGraw, Annan Jr. and Horvath helped the Cougars maintain control, while Keylan Smith connected from beyond the arc to extend the lead to 22-13 with 9:46 remaining.
- The Cougars continued building their advantage behind an efficient offensive performance, shooting 60% from the field and 50% from three-point range during the opening 20 minutes. McGraw led the first-half scoring effort with 13 points and seven rebounds, while Horvath added 12 points and three assists.
- Annan Jr. contributed 10 points and four rebounds before the break, while Jackson provided eight points on 4-of-5 shooting. IU Kokomo also limited the Wolverines to just 34.4% shooting, carrying a commanding 52-29 advantage into halftime.
Second Half
- IU Kokomo maintained its offensive rhythm coming out of the break, shooting an even better 62.2% from the field during the final 20 minutes. The Cougars connected on 23 of 37 field goal attempts while adding 54 points to their first-half total.
- Annan Jr. continued his efficient performance, scoring 11 second-half points on 4-of-6 shooting while adding three rebounds and another blocked shot. McGraw contributed nine points and eight rebounds after halftime, completing his double-double in the season opener.
- Moses Haynes provided a spark offensively after the break, scoring all nine of his points in the second half while connecting on both of his three-point attempts. Horvath added nine points and two assists, helping the Cougars maintain their comfortable advantage.
- IU Kokomo extended its lead to as many as 33 points with 5:13 remaining, demonstrating its offensive depth throughout the second half. The Wolverines improved offensively, scoring 51 points after halftime, but the Cougars answered with 54 of their own to secure the 106-80 season-opening victory.
Top Performers
- Jake McGraw delivered an outstanding all-around performance, recording a game-high 22 points and 15 rebounds for a double-double. McGraw shot 10-of-14 from the field while adding three assists, two steals and a blocked shot. His 12 defensive rebounds helped anchor IU Kokomo's dominant effort on the glass.
- Joseph Annan Jr. was nearly unstoppable offensively, contributing 21 points on an efficient 8-of-11 shooting performance. The junior added seven rebounds and a game-high three blocked shots while connecting on five of his six free throw attempts.
- Hudson Horvath made an impressive collegiate debut, rounding out IU Kokomo's trio of 20-point scorers with 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including three three-pointers. Horvath also distributed a team-high five assists and collected three rebounds.
- Moses Haynes contributed nine points, three assists and two rebounds while shooting 3-of-4 from the field. The senior connected on two of his three attempts from beyond the arc.
- Cooper Jackson made his IU Kokomo debut with eight points on 4-of-6 shooting while adding two rebounds and a blocked shot. Keylan Smith led the Cougar reserves with seven points, while Brandon Addison and R'mani Wells each contributed six points and five rebounds.
- Cameron Karns added two points and three rebounds, while Doron Harris and Lewis Harvey each chipped in two points as 11 different Cougars found the scoring column.
- Wednesday's season opener also marked the collegiate debuts of Horvath, Smith, Addison, Wells, Harris, Harvey and L'Homme. Transfer Jalen Malone also made their IU Kokomo debuts in the victory.
The Cougars return to action Monday, November 2, when they travel to Evansville, Indiana, for an exhibition matchup against NCAA Division I opponent the University of Evansville.
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, X and Instagram.
