JOLIET, Ill. --- The University of St. Francis men's basketball team held league unbeaten Indiana University South Bend in check over the first 20 minutes only to have the Titans score 51 second-half points on 75 percent shooting from the field to register an 81-61 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference victory at the Sullivan Center on Wednesday night.

Limiting Indiana South Bend (9-2, 5-0 CCAC) to under 30 percent shooting and closing out the first half on a 19-2 run, the Saints (6-4, 3-4) were able to turn a 28-20 deficit with just under eight minutes to play into a 39-30 advantage at the break. Six different Saints contributed to the rally, including leading scorer and rebounder EJ Charles (15 points, 10 rebounds).

Joey Buggemi's three-pointer to open the second half provided USF with its biggest lead of the game at 42-30 before Indiana South Bend put the first of two big scoring runs together to turn the game around. The first one – a 20-5 surge – came over a six minute span to turn the Titans' 12-point deficit into a three point lead at 50-47. 

USF would tie the contest twice after that, but could never regain the edge, keeping the margin to single digits over the next six minutes, including 62-56 with 6:40 remaining in the contest. That is when Indiana South Bend went on its second run, closing out the game on a 19-5 push.

After converting on just 10 of its 34 shots in the opening half, the Titans were near-perfect in the second half hitting on all but six of their 24 attempts for the 75 percent reading. USF, on the opposite end, was held to just eight baskets in 35 attempts in the second half (22.9 percent) – five of which were from long range – after shooting 43.8 percent in the first half (14-of-32).

Indiana South Bend's five starters and one substitute provided all but four of the Titans' points. Dylan Allen led the way with 17 points, while Donyell Meredith and Spencer Pettit both contributed 15 points. Meredith also authored a double-double with his ten rebounds.

USF's other double figure scorers were Darius Wright (11 points) and Buggemi (10).

Up Next
The Saints will look to snap their three-game losing streak on Saturday when they travel to Notre Dame, Ind. to face Holy Cross College in a league affair starting at 2 pm Central time.

Live coverage can be found at gofightingsaints.com/coverage. You can also keep up with all things USF on Twitter @USFSaints.