NEW ALBANY, Ind. – The IU Southeast men's basketball team defeated Simmons College 68-61 in their season opener on Thursday.
 
Jocobi Hendricks got the scoring underway for the Grenadiers, knocking down a jumper for the first IU Southeast points of the season. The Grenadiers used a 5-0 run later in the first half to take an 11-6 lead. Simmons hit a jumper with nine minutes left in the first half to take a 15-14 lead, but a three by Jaden Johnson gave the Grenadiers the lead back at 17-15.
 
Another three by Jaden Johnson extended the IU Southeast lead to 20-15. IU Southeast took a 31-21 lead with one minute left in the half on a Caleb Brown three. A Richard Lang layup made it 33-21, but Simmons hit a three before the half to narrow the halftime deficit to 33-24.
 
IU Southeast took a double-digit lead at 36-26 two minutes into the second half on a Jacobi Hendricks three-point play. Lane Lauderbaugh scored five straight Grenadier points to give IU Southeast a 41-30 lead. Caden Jones hit a three on the following possession to make it 44-32 IU Southeast.
 
Simmons cut the lead to six at 48-42 with 10 minutes remaining in the game. The Grenadiers were able to extend their lead to nine, but a three by Simmons made it 53-47 with 6:34 remaining. Back-to-back threes by Lane Lauderbaugh and Jaden Johnson gave IU Southeast a 59-47 lead.
 
Jocobi Hendricks converted another three-point play to make it 64-51 with four minutes left, but another three by Simmons cut the deficit back to 10. Jocobi Hendricks hit another layup to make it 66-54 with just under three minutes remaining. J.J. Reed made it 68-56 with two free throws with two minutes remaining, and IU Southeast would hold on to win 68-61.

Jocobi Hendricks led the Grenadiers with 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Lane Lauderbaugh scored 11 points and tied Hendricks for the team lead with nine rebounds. J.J. Reed had 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks. Jaden Johnson scored 10 points and added four blocks in the victory.
 
IU Southeast (1-0) travels to Marian for their first road game of the year on Saturday.