The Indiana Mad Ants extended their winning streak to six games with a thrilling 127-124 victory over the Westchester Knicks on Monday night to open a three-game road trip. Jahlil Okafor led the charge with a dominant 38-point performance, shooting an efficient 18-for-21 from the field.
Indiana started strong, building a 36-28 lead after the first quarter behind Okafor’s offensive explosion and a balanced team effort. A three-pointer from Josiah-Jordan James early in the game pushed the Mad Ants to a double-digit advantage, setting the tone for a competitive night.
In the second quarter, the Mad Ants extended their lead to as much as 15 points thanks to baskets from De’Vion Harmon, Kyle Mangas, and Okafor, who tallied 26 of his 38 points in the first half. Westchester closed the gap before halftime, with Indiana holding a 67-63 advantage at the break.
The Knicks continued to push in the third quarter, tying the game multiple times and briefly taking the lead. Indiana reclaimed momentum with a late three-pointer from Dakota Mathias, holding a slim 94-93 edge heading into the fourth quarter.
Mathias opened the final period with back-to-back three-pointers, while Mangas added another to stretch Indiana’s lead to double digits at 114-104. However, Westchester mounted a late rally, taking a 122-121 lead with two minutes remaining.
In the closing moments, the two teams traded baskets before Cameron McGriff sealed the victory with a layup in the final seconds. McGriff finished with a double-double, posting 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Mathias contributed 27 points and 8 rebounds. Kyle Mangas added 18 points, and Tristen Newton led the team in assists with 10.
The win improves Indiana to 3-0 in the regular season (10-9 overall). The Mad Ants will face the Knicks again on Wednesday, January 1, at 1:00 p.m., before concluding their road trip on Saturday, January 4, against the Capital City Go-Go. Their next home game is set for Tuesday, January 7, against the Maine Celtics at 12:30 p.m.
