INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — Kyler D’Augustino scored 28 points and Jaxon Edwards added 25 as IU Indy outlasted Robert Morris 96-93 in overtime in a Horizon League men’s basketball game Thursday at Fairgrounds Coliseum. The Jaguars, who improved to 5-15, overcame a three-point halftime deficit by outscoring the Colonials 43-40 in the second half to force the extra period. IU Indy then secured the victory with a 15-12 edge in overtime. DeSean Goode led Robert Morris with 20 points and Ryan Prather scored 21. The Colonials fell to 11-8 despite leading 41-38 at halftime. An announced crowd of 732 watched the contest.

INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — In a game defined by its chaotic finish and a stunning individual performance, the IU Indy Jaguars snapped a four-game losing streak with a 96-93 overtime victory over the Robert Morris Colonials in a Horizon League men’s basketball thriller on Thursday night at Fairgrounds Coliseum. The contest, played before an announced crowd of 732, was a dramatic departure from pregame projections, as National Statistical’s ELO system had given Robert Morris a 91.4% probability to win. Instead, the Jaguars, who improved to 5-15 overall, outlasted the Colonials, who fell to 11-8, in an extra period fueled by clutch free-throw shooting and a monumental effort from guard Kyler D’Augustino. The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final minute of regulation and bled into overtime. With IU Indy trailing 81-79 and under 30 seconds to play, D’Augustino, a 6-foot-1 guard from Albany, Ohio, calmly sank a mid-range jumper to tie the game. Robert Morris guard Albert Vargas then missed a potential game-winner at the buzzer, sending the game to an extra period tied at 81. Overtime belonged to the Jaguars at the foul line. They attempted 10 free throws in the five-minute session, making seven, while Robert Morris managed only two attempts. IU Indy’s final nine points all came from the stripe, with D’Augustino and Jaxon Edwards combining to go 7 for 8 in the period. The Colonials, despite shooting 48% from the field for the game, were undone by 17 turnovers, which the Jaguars converted into 12 steals and a 23-9 advantage in points off turnovers. D’Augustino was the undeniable catalyst, finishing with 28 points and six assists in 38 minutes. He scored 10 points in the second half and overtime, including the crucial tying basket, and went 4 for 4 from the line in the extra period. His backcourt partner, Indianapolis native Jaxon Edwards, was equally vital, adding 25 points, including a perfect 11-for-11 performance from the free-throw line. Robert Morris, which led 41-38 at halftime, was led by a balanced offensive attack. DeSean Goode of Fairmont, West Virginia, scored 20 points, while Ryan Prather of Clarksburg, Maryland, added 21. Albert Vargas of New York contributed 14 points and six assists, and Ta’Zir Smith of Woodbridge, Virginia, chipped in 13 points off the bench. The Colonials were efficient offensively, posting an offensive rating of 118.0 points per 100 possessions and shooting 12 of 25 from 3-point range. However, their inability to secure the basketball proved fatal against an IU Indy defense that entered the game forcing the fewest turnovers in the Horizon League. The Jaguars, who came in with an offensive rating ranking near the bottom of Division I, exploded for a 123.7 rating in this game, shooting 48.4% from the field and 26 of 35 from the free-throw line. Statistically, the game was a study in contrasts. Robert Morris won the battle for second chances, grabbing 10 offensive rebounds to IU Indy’s 11, and outshot the Jaguars from beyond the arc. IU Indy, however, dominated the assist-to-turnover ratio, dishing out 12 assists against only eight turnovers, while the Colonials had just five assists against their 17 giveaways. The Jaguars also blocked three shots, including a key rejection by Aiden Miller late in the first half. The victory provides a significant boost for an IU Indy team that had struggled through a difficult season, while the loss is a missed opportunity for Robert Morris to solidify its position in the upper half of the conference standings. Both teams return to Horizon League action on Saturday, with IU Indy hosting Detroit and Robert Morris traveling to face Northern Kentucky. The two teams will meet again in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 28.

INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — A surging Robert Morris looks to continue its climb in the Horizon League standings on Thursday when it visits struggling IU Indy at Fairgrounds Coliseum. The Colonials (11-7, 3-4 Horizon) have won five of their last eight games and are coming off a narrow 79-74 home loss to Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday. Forward DeSean Goode has been a consistent force, averaging 18.0 points and 7.3 rebounds over his last six contests. He scored 24 points in a win at Saint Francis (PA) last month and posted 18 points and eight rebounds in the loss to Oakland on Jan. 4. IU Indy (4-15, 0-7) seeks its first conference win amid an eight-game losing streak. The Jaguars fell 95-83 at Milwaukee on Sunday, despite 24 points from guard Kyler D’Augustino. He has been a bright spot, scoring 20 or more points in six straight games, including a 31-point effort against Wright State on Jan. 4. Robert Morris, which won the season’s first meeting 80-78 at Green Bay on Dec. 4, features balanced scoring. Ryan Prather added 20 points in the last outing, while Albert Vargas dished out nine assists. The Jaguars have struggled defensively, allowing an average of 85.1 points during their conference skid. They will need another high-output night from D’Augustino and support from Micah Davis, who had 15 points and four assists against Milwaukee, to challenge the Colonials. Thursday’s matchup is the first of two between the teams this season. They will meet again in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 28. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST at Fairgrounds Coliseum.