Zach Plackemeier scored 19 points and IPFW beat Southern Utah 76-66 Saturday.
Southern Utah (2-6, 0-2, Summit League) was trailing by three, 67-64, with 2:39 to go when five free throws and a layup from Plackemeier and two free-throws from Ben Botts gave the Mastodons (5-2, 2-0) the win.
Botts finished with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists for IPFW, and Frank Gaines added 12 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Trey McCorkle contributed 11 points and eight rebounds.
Ray Jones led the Thunderbirds with 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Ramell Taylor added 11 points and four rebounds, and Tyson Koehler had 10 points and four assists.
IPFW outpaced the Thunderbirds from the free-throw line, shooting 77.8 percent compared with Southern Utah's 66.7 percent. Southern Utah had 16 turnovers that led to 11 points for the Mastodons.
