Box Score FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Despite a double-double from Rontray Chavis, the Indiana Tech men's basketball team wasn't able to pull out the victory, losing to cross-town rival University of St. Francis 68-63 on Tuesday night at the Hutzell Athletic Center.

The Cougars (1-0) led the game from the opening tip, with the Warriors (1-1) getting to within one point twice, but that's as close as the Orange and Black could get. A 13-2 run by St. Francis gave them their largest lead of the game, 12-points, 17-5 at the 13:56 mark in the first half. Tech then went on a run of its own, outscoring USF 9-3 over the next nine minutes to cut the lead to six, 20-14. The teams would trade baskets the rest of the half with the Cougars taking a seven point, 34-27 lead into the half.

The Cougars hit 12-for-28 shots (42.9 %) in the half including going 8-for-13 (61.5 %) from the free throw line. The Warriors meanwhile were 9-of-23 (39.1 %) from the floor and also converted eight free throws on 11 attempts (72.7%). USF outrebounded Tech 22-11 in the period including an 8-1 advantage on the offensive boards.

Josh Hogan led all scorers with 17 points with Chavis leading the Warriors with eight. Scott Kohne was the high rebounder with five and also led all players with two assists in the period while Parker Stouffer led Tech with three rebounds and Nick Lewis tallied one assist.

A three-point play by Chavis at the 12:33 mark in the second half cut the lead to two, 44-42, but the momentum was short-lived as the Cougars went on a 12-0 run to match their largest lead of the game at 12, 56-44. Four consecutive baskets by Chavis again cut the lead down to one, 62-61 with 47 seconds to play. Unfortunately Hogan made a layup and Lewis was called for a block on the play, giving the Cougars a three point lead. With 10 seconds to play, USF again took a three point lead and the Warriors had the ball with a chance to tie, but the Cougars elected to foul Lewis before Tech could get a shot off and essentially sealed the five-point, 68-63 victory.

Tech finished the game 23-for-54 (42.6%) from the floor, despite going 1-for-12 (8.3%) from three and converting 16 of 21 (76.2%) of their free throws. The Cougars finished 23-for-51 (45.1%) from the field and 5-of-13 (38.5%) from behind the arc. USF also shot 63 percent (17-27) from the charity stripe.

Hogan finished with a game-high 22 points while Chavis tallied 21 points and 10 rebounds for Tech. Two other Warriors; Lewis and Stouffer, scored in double-figures netting 14 and 12 points, respectively.

Tech returns to the court on Thursday, Nov. 1 when they face Barons of Ohio State-Lima in Lima, Ohio at 5 p.m.