KOKOMO, Ind. -- Following a tough overtime loss at Alice Lloyd (Ky.) on Tuesday night in Pippa Passes, the Midway men's basketball team was back in action on Saturday when they battled IU Kokomo (Ind.) in a River States Conference matchup.

The Cougars held a 42-29 lead at halftime and stretched it to 17 with 14:45 remaining. Midway cut the deficit to one within five minutes following a 19-3 run, but they wouldn't get any closer as IU Kokomo held on for the 78-68 victory featuring the two RSC West Division foes.

With the loss, Joe Krupinski's squad drops to 6-4 overall and 1-3 in league play, while IU Kokomo improves to 10-2 overall and 4-1 in River States Conference with the win.

The Cougars finished the contest shooting 51.7 percent (31-of-60) from the floor, while Midway shot just 38.2 percent (26-of-68). The Eagles also hit just 3-of-27 from three for 11.1 percent and IU Kokomo hit two of their 11 attempts for 18.2 percent.

The Eagles turned it over just five times and forced IU Kokomo into 14 which led to a 24-6 edge in points off turnovers, but the home team dominated the glass holding a 47-29 advantage.

IU Kokomo shot 54.5 percent from the floor in the first half and led by double figures over the final 10:48 of the opening stanza. The Cougars led by as many as 15 over the remainder of the first half as they took a 42-29 lead into the locker room.

The home squad pushed their lead to as many as 17 early in the second half before Midway finally made their run with 14:45 left in the second stanza. The Eagles responded and went on a 19-3 run to cut the deficit to one with 9:14 remaining.

In the midst of that 19-3 rally was a quick 12-0 run spanning three minutes. Donnie Miller (Newport, Ky.) scored five points in the rally, while Raekwon Evans (Louisville, Ky.) scored the remaining seven points including an old fashioned three-point play.

IU Kokomo pushed their lead back to nine following an 8-0 run, but Midway once again cut the deficit to three with a 5:26 left. The Cougars extended the lead back to 13 with a 12-2 run as they held on for the 78-68 victory.

Four players notched double figures for the Blue and Gold led by an 18-point performance from Raekwon Evans. Donnie Miller and Recardo Travis (Louisville, Ky.) added 15 and 13 points, respectively, and Cory Gardner (Owensboro, Ky.) chipped in 11 points off the bench.

Midway is now scheduled to return to the hardwood on Friday (Dec. 4) when they travel to Louisville, Ky. to battle NCAA DI foe, Bellarmine University in an exhibition at 7 p.m. ET in Freedom Hall.

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