THE REPORTER
The University boys turned up the defensive intensity in the second half and pulled away for a 58-38 win at Indianapolis Shortridge.
Sabien Cain had 19 points and Andre Ozlowski added 17 points in the Trailblazers’ season opener.
University trailed 24-20 with 3:25 left in the second quarter before scoring the last nine points of the half to take a 29-24 advantage. The Trailblazers held the Blue Devils to just 14 points in the second half, forcing numerous turnovers and steals.
Cain started the half-ending run by splitting a pair of free throws. Bryce Gray scored to cut the Shortridge lead to 24-23 before a pair of Cain foul shots put the Blazers up for good at 25-24. Cain scored again with 50 seconds off an Ozlowski pass on a back door cut before Gray hit a runner in the lane with one second left in the half.
University built a 34-24 before the Blue Devils scored four points to cut the lead to just six. University pulled back out of a 10-point lead after three quarters. Steven Scott threw down a dunk off a feed from Gray, Seth Hogg threaded the needle with another back door pass to Cain for a layin and Ozlowski scored through contact at the rim.
Shortridge made a three pointer to open the fourth quarter, but baskets by Ozlowski, Hogg and Cain preceded a Hogg old fashioned three-point play for a 50-34 University lead midway through the final period and the Blazers coasted home.
University coach Brandon Lafferman was effusive in his praise of the Blue Devils. “Hats off to Shortridge. They played with more energy than we did in the first half and their defense was outstanding. I think they are going to have a very good season.”
Lafferman was pleased with how his team responded in the second half. “I was really proud of our second half effort. We played fantastic defense in the half court. We preached moving the ball at half time and ball movement got better and we got a lot of layups in the second half.”
University will hit the road again Friday at Shenandoah before hosting Greenwood Christian Saturday in its home opener.
UNIVERSITY 58, SHORTRIDGE 38
University FG FT TP PF
Kahmi Bracey 2 1-2 5 3
Robert Russell 1 0-0 3 1
Sabien Cain 6 6-7 19 3
Andre Ozlowski 7 3-6 17 1
Steven Scott 1 0-0 2 0
Bryce Gray 2 0-0 4 0
Seth Hogg 3 1-1 8 3
Zien Bland 0 0-0 0 1
Totals 22 11-16 58 12
Score by Quarters
University 11 18 11 18 – 58
Shortridge 13 11 6 8 – 38
University 3-pointers (3) Russell 1, Cain 1, Hogg 1.