Bucks Edged by KIPP Indy 65-63 in Final-Second Thriller

Richmond, Ind. — Playing their fourth game in two days, Bucks Men’s Basketball pushed KIPP Indy to the final horn before falling 65-63 on a missed buzzer-beater Tuesday in Bob Wettig Tournament action.

The game was decided in the closing seconds. Trailing late, the Bucks’ defense forced a tough, contested 2-point attempt that KIPP Indy converted with 1.5 seconds remaining to break a tie. Out of time and out of timeouts, Buckeye executed a last-chance play that freed a shooter for a potential game-winning 3-pointer, but the attempt sailed wide right as the clock expired.

Despite the narrow loss, the Bucks matched KIPP Indy’s pace and athleticism most of the night. Turner Dolata led the effort with 20 points, providing consistent scoring in the lane and at the foul line to keep Buckeye within striking distance. The Bucks’ offense spread the floor effectively, moving the ball and creating balanced opportunities against KIPP Indy’s pressure.

On the perimeter, Austin Hyre and Zak Stough gave the Bucks a crucial boost, each finishing with 12 points. Their shot-making from the outside helped Buckeye answer several KIPP Indy runs and prevented the game from getting away in the middle quarters. Hyre’s perimeter shooting and Stough’s timely baskets were key in setting up the Bucks’ late push.

Inside, Jacob Snyderburn added 10 points, giving Buckeye a reliable option around the rim and on second-chance opportunities. His production complemented Dolata’s work in the paint, as the Bucks battled on the glass and continued to attack offensively despite heavy legs from the condensed tournament schedule.

Defensively, Buckeye strung together key stops in the fourth quarter to erase a KIPP Indy lead and set up the dramatic finish. Rotations tightened, closeouts improved, and the Bucks forced difficult shots to climb back into contention. The late defensive stand that preceded KIPP Indy’s go-ahead basket demonstrated the team’s resilience in a high-pressure situation.

Though the final shot did not fall, the Bucks’ 63-point outing against a talented KIPP Indy squad capped a stretch of four games in two days that underscored the group’s competitiveness and depth. The performance provides momentum and valuable experience as Buckeye transitions out of tournament play and back into the regular-season schedule.