KOKOMO, Ind. — The IU Kokomo men's basketball team overcame a furious second-half rally from IU Northwest Wednesday evening, outlasting the RedHawks 85-78 in overtime inside the Student Activities & Events Center to remain unbeaten in regular-season play.
The Cougars (2-0) built a lead as large as 16 points before IU Northwest (1-2) battled back, outscoring the hosts 46-35 in the second half to force an additional five minutes. IU Kokomo responded when it mattered most, outscoring the RedHawks 17-10 in overtime to secure its second victory of the season.
First Half
- IU Northwest jumped out to an early 5-0 advantage, but the Cougars responded with seven consecutive points, capped by a Hudson Horvath three-pointer, to take their first lead of the evening.
- IU Kokomo continued to establish control defensively, holding the RedHawks to just 25 percent shooting from the field in the opening 20 minutes. The Cougars also dominated the defensive glass, collecting 20 defensive rebounds in the half.
- The Cougars built their advantage behind a balanced offensive attack, with six players contributing to the scoring column. IU Kokomo shot 40 percent from the field while converting 11 free throws in the period.
- IU Kokomo carried a 33-22 lead into the halftime break, having held IU Northwest to just eight made field goals on 32 attempts.
Second Half
- The Cougars extended their advantage to a game-high 16 points early in the second half, but IU Northwest began to find its offensive rhythm and gradually chipped away at the deficit.
- The RedHawks shot 48.6 percent from the field after halftime, a significant improvement from their first-half performance, while holding IU Kokomo to just 16 rebounds in the period.
- Horvath helped keep the Cougars in front with 14 second-half points, connecting on both of his three-point attempts and shooting 4-of-8 from the field. Annan Jr. added eight points and seven rebounds, while Brandon Addison contributed six points and two steals.
- IU Northwest completed its comeback behind 13 second-half points from Tommy Snyder and 11 from Zach Greene, outscoring IU Kokomo 46-35 to erase the halftime deficit and send the contest to overtime tied at 68.
Overtime
- IU Kokomo answered the challenge in the extra period, converting three of its seven field goal attempts while taking advantage of opportunities at the free throw line.
- Jake McGraw delivered six crucial points in overtime, including a perfect 4-of-4 showing from the charity stripe. Addison added four points, while Annan Jr. contributed three.
- The Cougars were particularly effective at the free throw line down the stretch, knocking down 11 of 13 attempts in overtime while limiting IU Northwest to just 10 points.
- IU Kokomo outscored the RedHawks 17-10 in the additional five minutes, closing out the hard-fought 85-78 victory to improve to 2-0 on the season.
Top Performers
- Hudson Horvath led all scorers with 23 points, shooting 6-of-13 from the field, 3-of-5 from three-point range and 8-of-10 from the free throw line. The freshman also added three rebounds.
- Joseph Annan Jr. recorded his first double-double of the season, finishing with 17 points, a team-high 11 rebounds and three blocked shots while shooting 8-of-15 from the field.
- Brandon Addison provided a spark off the bench with 11 points, four rebounds and a team-high three steals, including four points in overtime.
- Moses Haynes contributed 10 points and a game-high eight assists to go along with four rebounds, connecting on two three-pointers.
- Jake McGraw added 10 points and five rebounds, converting all six of his free throw attempts, including four in overtime.
- Cooper Jackson pulled down nine rebounds to go along with six points, providing a strong presence on the glass.
The Cougars will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season when they travel to Defiance, Ohio, on Tuesday, November 10th, for a matchup against Defiance College. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
For all the latest news and updates on IU Kokomo Athletics, visit iukcougars.com and follow the Cougars on Facebook, Instagram, and X.
