SOUTH BEND (Interstat) — Bryson Castillo and Brodie Teke keyed Warner’s attack as the visiting Royals defeated Indiana-South Bend 84-78 in a men’s NAIA basketball game on Oct. 23 at the Student Activities Center in South Bend, Ind. Warner improved to 1-0, while Indiana-South Bend dropped to 0-1. The Royals used a balanced floor game and timely outside shooting to answer a strong shooting effort from Chris Hurt and the Titans.

Warner finished 30 of 58 from the floor, including 8 of 22 from three-point range, and made 16 of 20 free throws. Indiana-South Bend shot 28 of 52 overall, 6 of 19 from beyond the arc, and 16 of 30 at the line. Warner held a 36-26 rebound advantage, including a 10-7 edge on the offensive glass. The Titans had 13 assists to Warner’s eight and blocked seven shots, while the Royals committed 17 turnovers to Indiana-South Bend’s 14. Warner was whistled for 24 fouls and Indiana-South Bend for 20. Warner scored its 84 points from 74 possessions for an offensive rating of 112.8, while Indiana-South Bend scored 78 from 73 possessions at 106.5.

Castillo was central for Warner, making layups, a 3-pointer and free throws while helping the Royals answer several Indiana-South Bend runs. Teke provided a second-quarter spark with four 3-pointers, and Kenny Greenling added layups and dunks inside. Seth Childers hit a 3-pointer and converted a tip-in, Kyree McKelton made jumpers and free throws, and Jaevien Ervin scored on layups. Jerry Kline-Ruminski and Marcel Pace also contributed baskets for Warner.

For Indiana-South Bend, Hurt scored on layups and 3-pointers and was among the Titans’ most consistent threats. AJ Dunn hit a 3-pointer and made several layups, Saxton Hoepker knocked down two 3-pointers and scored in the paint, and J’Siah Jefferson made layups, a jumper and a 3-pointer. Mark White Jr. made layups and free throws, Andrew Hedgepeth added jump shots, and Andrew Soenksen made free throws and a late tip-in. Warner finished with more rebounds and made free throws, while Indiana-South Bend had more assists and blocks.

The game featured plenty of back-and-forth action in the first half, with both teams trading baskets early. Hurt opened the scoring with a layup, Ervin answered with a layup, and Dunn connected from 3-point range. Hornbeak made a free throw, Greenling made a free throw and a layup, and Hurt hit another 3-pointer. Turay made a layup, Jefferson made a jumper and a layup, and Castillo hit a 3-pointer for Warner. Kline-Ruminski made a layup, McKelton made a jumper, Childers hit a 3-pointer, and Greenling threw down a dunk as Warner kept pace. Castillo added two more layups and a free throw, Dunn made a layup, and Castillo hit another 3-pointer later in the first quarter. Hurt and Jefferson made layups for the Titans, while Hedgepeth made a jump shot and Hoepker made a layup. Castillo and Childers closed the first-quarter scoring for Warner with a layup and a tip-in.

In the second quarter, Castillo made a free throw before Hoepker hit a 3-pointer and Dunn made a jumper. Pace made a jump shot, Ervin made two layups, and Hurt made a layup for Indiana-South Bend. Hoepker hit another 3-pointer, Hurt made a 3-pointer and a layup, and Castillo made a jumper. Teke then hit four 3-pointers in a stretch that helped Warner create separation. Castillo made a jump shot and a layup, Greenling made two layups and a dunk, and Childers made a 3-pointer and a free throw. McKelton made a free throw and a layup, and Pace made a free throw. Indiana-South Bend countered with Jefferson’s 3-pointer and layup, White’s layups and free throws, Hoepker’s free throws and layup, and Soenksen’s free throws and tip-in at the end of the half.

Warner maintained its composure at the free-throw line in the closing minutes and secured the win despite Indiana-South Bend’s late push. The Titans got the final basket on Soenksen’s tip-in, but the Royals had already done enough at the line and on the boards.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Indiana-South Bend 64, Warner 56, and its ELO system gave Indiana-South Bend an 84.9 percent probability to win before the game.