Men's Basketball Can't Overcome Early Run by Indiana Tech

(Fort Wayne, IN)-- The Cleary Cougar men's basketball team was on the road, taking on the Indiana Tech Warriors in Ft. Wayne in a WHAC battle.

The Warriors started the game with a made layup, while Jacob Mueller answered on the other end to tie the game.  Indiana Tech would then go on a 19-0 run to take a 21-2 lead.  Tim Kewley would make one of two free throws, and Nick Moore hit a jumper to make the score 21-5.  Indiana Tech would score one more basket, allowing the Cougars to go on a run to cut into the Warrior advantage.  Bennie Crenshaw Jr. hit a jumper to start things off, followed by a pair of Tim Kewley free throws, and a Chaz Cobbs Jr. three made it 23-12.  Chris Williams got into the action, and mae it a single-digit game.  Williams would knock down one of two free throws, and then added a layup, cutting the Warrior lead to six points.  Jaylen Cole-Williams then hit a three to make the game 23-20 before the Warriors ended the 15-0 Cougar run.  After the Warriors scored again to make the score 28-20, Tim Kewley hit one of two free throws.  The two teams would then trade baskets to finish the half, with the Warriors leading 39-30 at the break.

Indiana Tech would start the second half strong, and had regained a comfortable lead after just three minutes of second half play.  After the first media timeout of the half, Indiana Tech scored to make it a twenty point game, and the Cougars continued to get shots, but were unable to convert those shots into points.  Levi McKenzie would hit a three to make it a twenty point game halfway through the half, but the Warriors answered every basket with one of their own, preventing Cleary from going on another run to cut into the deficit.  Indiana Tech would go on to win the game 84-63.

Chris Williams had a team high 18 points and 6 rebounds.  Levi McKenzie was the only other Cougar in double-figures with 11 points.  Jacob Mueller scored 6 points, but grabbed 8 rebounds and added 3 assists and 2 blocks.  Chaz Cobbs Jr. had 5 points and 6 rebounds off the bench.

Cleary's record is now 6-14, 5-9 within the WHAC.  The Cougars will be on the road on Wednesday, February 5, when they travel to Southfield to take on the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils for a 7:30 tip-off.