PITTSBURGH -- Indiana University Kokomo hit No. 21 Point Park with an early run, and the Pioneers never recovered in an 84-69 loss to the Cougars on Saturday. 

IU Kokomo (15-5, 5-5 RSC) made 6 of 7 3-pointers and blocked three shots in the first five minutes of the game to stake out a 20-6 lead. Point Park (19-2, 8-2 RSC) was forced to play from behind the rest of the way and never made it back. 

It was a very rare home loss for Point Park, which had won 25 home games in a row dating back to November 2023.

The Pioneers shot just 24 percent the first half, and that did not get much better after halftime with 36-percent shooting the final 20 minutes. Point Park unable to convert its chances -- many times from in close -- along with IU Kokomo riding its early hot streak put the Cougars in the winner's circle. 

Point Park was down 44-24 at the break. The Pioneers won the second half, 45-40, but the bad first half was too much to overcome. Point Park moved to within 58-44 midway through the second half, but Chris Chinn drove in for a basket and a foul as the Cougars quickly bumped the score back to 63-45. 

With Point Park unable to hit the key shots it needed for the comeback, the IU Kokomo lead grew. The Pioneers did make a late run to pull within 80-67, but by then it was too late. The Cougars put the game away at the foul line in the last couple of minutes.

Max Newman was a big factor in the game putting up 32 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks for IU Kokomo. Of the six 3-pointers in the first five minutes, he was 5 for 6 in that streak and was 7 for 11 from long range on the day. That led five Cougars in double figures.

Jo Valrie had 15 points and 10 rebounds for Point Park. Jamisen Smith scored 14 points with 10 of those coming in the second half. Nathaniel Van with 13 points and five assists, Nazareth Fisher with 10 points and Jordan Stowe nine points, nine rebounds and four steals were other Point Park leaders. 

The Pioneers go on the road for two games in the coming week. First up is a road date at Ohio Christian on Tuesday followed by a visit to WVU Tech on Saturday. Both of those are the first meetings of the year versus those teams, the only RSC East teams the Pioneers have yet to play. Point Park was 5-2 versus the RSC West with the IU Kokomo matchup completing the games versus the other division.