KOKOMO, Ind. - In a back-and-forth battle Saturday afternoon, the 25th-ranked IU Kokomo men's basketball team fought to the final buzzer but dropped an 87–76 decision to Midway (Ky.).

FAST FACTS - 87-76 loss vs Midway (Ky.)

• LOCATION: Student Activities and Events Center | Kokomo, IN
• UPDATED RECORDS: Midway - 10-11 (7-4), IU Kokomo - 20-4 (10-2)
• NAIA TOP-25 RANKINGS: Midway - N/A, IU Kokomo - #25

THE RUNDOWN

• Midway jumped out to an early nine-point lead at the first media timeout with 14:42 on the clock. From there, the Cougars battled back over the next stretch of the game to take their first lead at 23-21 at the 8:01 mark on a layup from Joseph Annan Jr. 
• The rest of the half was a back and forth affair between the two squads, with neither team having more than a three point lead. Ultimately, Midway headed into the locker room leading 41-38. 
• The second half was more of the same, with the teams trading buckets before being tied at 66 points apiece with 8:00 left in the game.  
• From there, Midway took the lead and never gave it up, capping off their win at the free throw line to close an 87-76 victory. 

LEADING THE CHARGE

• Joseph Annan Jr. led the way for the Cougars in the loss, scoring a team-high 23 points while grabbing seven rebounds. 
• Freshmen Alonzo Clawson-Smith and Patric Matson were also in double figures scoring. Clawson-Smith had 15 points and seven assists as Matson added 17 points of his own on four triples. 

THE ROAD AHEAD

• Next Game: 2/10 vs Saint Mary of the Woods College - 6:00 PM EST

For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.