FORT WAYNE, Ind. — EJ Reese poured in a game-high 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds, including a remarkable 27-point second half, but the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College men's basketball team fell 106-91 to Indiana Tech in its season opener Saturday evening at the Schaefer Center.
Reese provided a dominant performance off the bench for the Pomeroys (0-1), shooting 10-of-14 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line in just 16 minutes of action.
KC Chandler added 13 points, four rebounds and four assists, while
Zayvion Baker finished with 12 points and four assists.
Amadou Ceesay contributed 10 points, three rebounds and two blocked shots, and
Jasmin Suvalija connected on three 3-pointers for nine points.
SMWC briefly held the lead in the opening minutes after
Terrance Hill converted a layup and followed with two free throws to put the Pomeroys ahead 4-2. Indiana Tech (1-0) responded with a 14-2 stretch, fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers from Branden Northern, to build a 16-6 advantage.
The Pomeroys fought to stay within reach behind contributions from their reserves.
Mike Elliott knocked down a 3-pointer off a Chandler assist before Ceesay converted a jumper in the paint, trimming the deficit to 21-15 with 10:47 remaining in the opening half. Elliott later added a layup to pull SMWC within six, 23-17, but Indiana Tech answered with a 22-3 surge to establish its largest lead of the contest at 45-23.
Baker helped spark a late first-half response, connecting on three shots from beyond the arc and scoring all 12 of his points before halftime.
Thomas Girma and Suvalija added consecutive 3-pointers late in the period, while Baker drilled another triple with 50 seconds remaining and converted three free throws in the closing seconds. The Pomeroys entered the break trailing 51-37.
SMWC came out aggressively in the second half as Chandler connected on a pair of 3-pointers in the opening three minutes. Reese then took control offensively, scoring nine points during a stretch of less than three minutes. His layup with 15:55 remaining brought the Pomeroys within seven at 58-51, their smallest deficit since the opening half.
Indiana Tech responded with seven unanswered points, but SMWC continued generating offense through Reese and Ceesay. Ceesay scored six second-half points, while Chandler finished with 11 after intermission, including three 3-pointers.
Suvalija provided another spark from the perimeter midway through the half, hitting consecutive 3-pointers to help keep the Pomeroys within striking distance. Reese followed with a layup and two free throws to cut the margin to 86-75 with 6:23 remaining, but Indiana Tech answered with a timely 3-pointer from Trey Yoder to halt the momentum.
Reese continued attacking the basket down the stretch, scoring 14 points over the final seven minutes and connecting on his lone 3-point attempt of the game. Chandler added a late triple as SMWC finished with 54 second-half points, but the Warriors maintained their advantage to secure the victory.
The Pomeroys shot 45.7% from the floor (32-of-70), including an impressive 41.4% from 3-point range (12-of-29). SMWC received 59 points from its bench and recorded 34 points in the paint.
Ben Chestnut led the team with eight rebounds, including four offensive boards, while Chandler and Baker shared the team lead with four assists apiece.
Indiana Tech was led by Northern's 23 points, while Yoder added 20 points and eight rebounds. Jaxon Pardon finished with 15 points, Dallas Roberts contributed 14 and Logan Beaston added 10. The Warriors shot 51.4% from the field and held a narrow 40-39 advantage on the glass.
Up Next
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College will travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the Aquinas Drury Inn Classic, where the Pomeroys will play two games next weekend.
SMWC opens tournament action Friday, Oct. 30, against Indiana University South Bend at 4 p.m. before returning to the court Saturday, Oct. 31, to face the University of St. Francis (Ill.) at 3 p.m.
