Dec. 1, 2009

Box Score

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Nick Daniels hit a three-pointer with 33 seconds left and added two game-clinching free throws just moments later as IPFW defeated Southern Illinois University Edwardsville 69-64 Tuesday night at the Vadalabene Center.

The Cougars, 0-6, and the Mastodons, 2-3, were tied in the final minute after exchanging the lead seven times and tying it another six times. Daniels out IPFW in the lead for good as he went from the right side of the court to the left baseline to hit his key three-pointer.

"It was another close one that we didn't make the plays down the stretch," said SIUE Coach Lennox Forrester.

Mark Yelovich finished with 15 points to lead SIUE. He hit all eight of his free throws and also topped the team in rebounds with eight. Aamir McCleary added 14 points while David Boarden scored 11 off the Cougar bench.

IPFW's Deilvez Yearby led all scorers with 21 points. Ben Potts scored 11 for the Mastodons, and Daniels finished with 10.

SIUE held the lead at halftime 36-33 after hitting 10 of 11 free throws. Both team struggled from the field in the first half, shooting less than 40 percent from the field. The two teams beefed up their offense by both shooting 50 percent and better in the second half.

IPFW opened up a quick four-point lead by scoring the first seven points of the second half. SIUE rebounded with an 11-2 run of its own behind a three-point play by Boarden and a three-pointer by Kevin Stineman.

The two teams were neck-and-neck the rest of the way until Daniels lifted the Mastodons in the final seconds.

Forrester said more hard work in practice will help the Cougars.

"We're knocking on the door. We have to keep our heads up and keep plugging away. Right now we are giving ourselves a chance to win down the stretch, but we've got to be a team that now starts making the tough plays," Forrester said. -siue cougars-