SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- A six-point halftime deficit that swelled to 21 midway through the second half proved too much to overcome for the University of St. Francis men's basketball team, which used a late rally to get within four points before succumbing 89-83 to Indiana University South Bend in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest Wednesday night.
 

The loss continued the season-long run of falling just short in league contests for the Saints, whose nine conference setbacks have all come by seven points or less. USF now stands at 7-13 overall and 5-9 in league play. Indiana South Bend improved to 14-7 overall and 8-5 in conference competition.
 

Both teams came out firing in a first half that saw the two combine for 100 points and each shoot 63 percent from the field. Led by Cole Micek's (SR/Los Angeles, Calif.) four first-half three-pointers and another three from Mitch Kwasigroch (SR/Manhattan, Ill.), the Saints were even more impressive from three-point range in the opening 20 minutes, converting at a 69 percent clip (9-of-13). Their production helped wipe out an 11-point first-half deficit and provide the Saints with one of only three leads – 32-31 with 6:49 to play – they would gain on the night.
 

That edge only lasted 20 seconds as Indiana South Bend was able to rack up 22 points in the closing 6:29 and take a 53-47 advantage into the break.
 

The Titans increased that margin to double-figures quickly in the second half and maintained no less than a 10-point lead until 4:26 remained in the contest. That came during a 13-0 run by the Saints that turned an 85-68 deficit into a slim 85-81 difference with still 2:58 to play.
 

USF, however, could only convert one of seven field goal attempts down the stretch as part of an overall 39 percent shooting mark after the break (12-of-31) in falling by the six-point margin. Indiana South Bend also cooled off in the second half, but only slipped to 47 percent after the intermission.
 

The Titans were also aided by their 12 offensive rebounds that resulted in a 14-8 advantage on second-chance points for the game and a 34-26 difference in rebounding overall.
 

Each team produced five double-figure scorers with Micek leading the way with 19 points to go along with five rebounds and three assists. Lewis Holey (JR/Sydney, Australia) contributed 16 points with Arnold Agard (JR/Brooklyn, NY), Joey Buggemi (SO/Frankfort, Ill.), and Kwasigroch all tallying 11.
 

Martin Kourtlandt was Indiana South Bend's top scorer with 18 points and added seven rebounds. Teammate Miles Tracy was right behind with 16 markers.
 

The Saints stay in the Hoosier State on Saturday, matching up against Indiana University Northwest in another CCAC contest at 3 pm.