The #2 ranked IU Southeast Men’s basketball team ran into a battle against a Point Park Pioneers team that started the game on fire and never cooled off. In the end the Grenadiers grinded out a 99-94 victory to improve to (24-3) and (18-0) and advance in the KIAC tournament.

The pioneers were seven of 11 from the three point line in the first half and nine of 17 in the second half.

The Grenadiers had their hands full with Gabe McNeal, senior guard, who scored a game high 30 points on 11 of 23 shooting from the field and four of 8 from the three point line.

IUS’s Aishon White, junior guard, said that when a team is shooting  well, all you can do is to play tough defense. White said that the strategy for containing Gabe McNeal wasn’t working because he was making difficult shots with a hand in his face.

The Grenadiers were led in scoring by Cameron Mitchell, senior guard, with 22 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Jake Simpson, junior guard, added 20 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Kevin Mitchell, senior  guard, was suspended due to a technical foul he was assessed in Saturday’s game against Saint Louis Pharmacy. Mitchell was replaced in the starting line up by Aishon White, junior guard who filled in  with 21 points six rebounds and four assists.

“I think not having Kevin Mitchell in the game hurt us in terms of pushing the ball up the court,” Simpson said. “Because with him he just keeps pushing it the entire game and that wears the other team out.”

This was the Grenadiers third match up against Point Park this year. In their February 8th matchup against the Pioneers, the Grenadiers won another close game 95-89.

The Pioneers, who are (11-17) and (6-11) in the KIAC, do not play like an team with a losing record against the Grenadiers.

Cameron Mitchell said playing a team that makes difficult shots is frustrating.

“It’s crazy, because you have a hand in their face and you’re like, “man how did you make that?”  Mitchell said.

The Pioneers played mostly a two-three zone, giving the Grenadiers many open outside shoots. Unfortunately for the Grenadiers they were only three for 17 from the three point line in the first half.

Simpson said that a lot of teams have started to play a zone defense when facing IUS.

“I guess they see that as a weakness,” Simpson said, “but we have been working against zones in practice.”

In the second half the Grenadiers made some halftime adjustments and started to attack the basket. The Grenadiers were 20 for 35 from the field in the second half. They were also much more selective from the three point line, making three of five threes.

IU Southeast men’s basketball team was upset Saturday in the championship game of the KIAC tournament in Pippa Passes, KY by Cincinnati Christian 83-71.  The Grenadiers are predicted to earn an at-large bid to the 23rd Annual NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Mo. Check iushorizon.com for details once the seedings are announced.