The IU Southeast men’s basketball team won their first game of the season defeating St. Catharine 102-99 on Saturday.

The first half of play both teams went back and forth swapping the lead. The first half ended with a breakaway dunk by St. Catharine to tie the game 51-51 at the half.

The second half started off with both teams continually going back and forth with the lead. However, St. Catharine was able to go on a nice run that was led by senior guard Ben Vozzola, taking an 83-75 lead.

Vozzola had a tied for a game-high 29 points and a game-high of 18 rebounds. He shot 11/31 from the field.

IUS, however, made an amazing comeback going on a 13-4 run to retake the lead at 88-87. The two teams then continued taking turns with the lead

IUS senior guard Jake Simpson was fouled with 35.5 seconds left in regulation with IUS down 99-98. Simpson made both free throws to take the lead.

Now up 100-99, Simpson once again got fouled and again went to the free throw line and made two big free throws to give the Grenadiers a 3-point lead.

Simpson tied for a game-high with 29 points and added 10 rebounds. He got 6/12 from the field and was 16/20 from the free throw line.

St. Catharine’s 3-point attempt at the end of regulation fell short giving the Grenadiers the win in their first home game of the season.

“It was a free throw battle in the end, but I’m glad we won it,” said Simpson.

Junior guard Harry Cross had 25 points and a team high 12 rebounds, and senior forward Brandon Britt added 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks for the Grenadiers.

The Grenadiers were 31/67 from the field and 8/21 from three-point range. St. Catharine committed 29 personal fouls, and the Grenadiers took advantage of that by shooting 32/42 from the free throw line.

Despite the win, head coach Wiley Brown says that the team can still improve and be better.

“It’s defense, effort, and rebounding. We turned the ball over way too much,” said Brown.

The Grenadiers had 18 turnovers in the game.

Simpson also said that the team should’ve done better in the game.

“We should’ve beat them by a lot more, but we’re getting better,” said Simpson.

Brown said that people are throwing the ball away, people are dribbling that shouldn’t be dribbling, people are shooting that shouldn’t be shooting, and their defensive rotation isn’t good.

“These guy’s effort in practice is good, but they’re just not playing smart right now,” said Brown.

However, Brown believes that the Grenadiers tough schedule will help the players improve.

“Hopefully at the end of the year, which I play for, these guys will be ready,” said Brown.

The Grenadiers next game is at Cumberland University on Wednesday.