JOLIET, Ill. --- For the second game in a row, the University of St. Francis men's basketball team outscored the opposition in the second half, but a hot shooting start by Indiana University South Bend was too much to overcome as the Fighting Saints dropped an 82-73 decision in Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Wednesday night at the Sullivan Center.

IUSB (15-6, 9-3 CCAC) hit nine of its first 13 shots of the game, including three treys, to open up a 22-7 advantage at the 13:38 mark.  The Titans would extend that lead as high as 44-20 in the closing three minutes of the half, but the Fighting Saints would not give in just like they have not all season long.

The deficit would sway between 10 and 21 points before Nick Niego got hot for the Saints.  The freshman scored all 11 of his points in the second half, including eight in a 13-4 run to get USF back within striking distance at 68-59 with 4:30 to play. 

It would become an eight-point contest (71-63) a little over one minute later and then down to seven points (78-71) with 51 seconds remaining.  Indiana South Bend, however, would seal the win with four straight free throws down the stretch.

IUSB gained a 44-28 scoring edge over the Saints in the first half by shooting 54.3 percent from the field (19-of-35) with five treys in ten attempts.  USF (5-13, 4-8) converted at just a 32.1 percent clip (9-of-28).

Eight three-pointers in 13 attempts (61.5 pct.) after halftime fueled St. Francis' 45-38 scoring advantage in the second half.  The Saints also shot much better overall after the break (48.5 pct., 16-of-33), while Indiana South Bend was 11-of-26 (42.3 pct.).

Niego was a big reason for the Saints' second-half resurgence, going 4-for-5 from the field after the intermission, including a perfect 3-for-3 reading on three-point attempts.

Te Jones and Rahmel Davis tied for team-high scoring honors for USF with 13 points each.  Jones also had five assists, while Davis recorded five rebounds. 

Dejon Barney had another big game for Indiana South Bend.  Last week's NAIA and CCAC Player of the Week finished with 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting with 14 rebounds. 

Notes: Niego's 11 points tied a career-high mark … Davis has scored in double figures in five straight games and eight of nine … Jones has hit for at least ten points in four of his last five contests … USF's eight turnovers were its second-lowest number of the campaign … Indiana South Bend scored 82 points in both meetings against the Saints this season, which is the most points allowed by USF's defense this winter … The Saints are on the road Saturday for a CCAC matchup with Olivet Nazarene University beginning at 3 pm.

Links to live coverage can be found at gofightingsaints.com/coverage. You can also keep up with everything happening around USF Athletics on Twitter @USFSaints.