KOKOMO, Ind. - Looking to respond on their home floor, IU Kokomo struggled to find its rhythm until late, as Saint Mary-of-the-Woods held on for a six-point victory over the 25th-ranked Cougars.

FAST FACTS - 76-70 loss vs Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College

• LOCATION: Student Activities and Events Center | Kokomo, IN
• UPDATED RECORDS: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College - 12-13 (6-7), IU Kokomo - 20-5 (10-3)
• NAIA TOP-25 RANKINGS: Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College - N/A, IU Kokomo - #25

THE RUNDOWN

• IU Kokomo never found the lead Tuesday night, as the Pomeroys stormed out to a fast start and held the Cougars scoreless until the 13:08 mark of the opening half. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods' Mike Ajukwa was nearly unstoppable off the bench, shooting 11-of-12 from the field for 29 points in just 25 minutes of action.
• The Cougars trimmed the deficit to three, but SMWC answered with a surge to push the margin back to double digits, taking a 41-31 lead into halftime.
• SMWC controlled much of the second half, building a lead of up to 17 points before IU Kokomo launched a late rally. The Cougars closed the gap to just two on two separate occasions in the final four minutes but couldn't complete the comeback, as the Pomeroys held on for a 76-70 victory.

LEADING THE CHARGE

• Four Cougars reached double figures in the loss, led by Alonzo Clawson-Smith, who posted 18 points and eight assists on 7-of-14 shooting from the field.
• Patric Matson contributed 14 points, knocking down four crucial three-pointers, while Evan Kretz added 12 points and Joseph Annan Jr. chipped in 10.

THE ROAD AHEAD

• Next Game: 2/13 at Rio Grande - 3:00 PM EST
• Next Home Game: 2/21 vs Brescia - 3:00 PM EST

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.