IU East News
The Red Wolves hit their Oregon trail Oct. 30 and 31.
The Indiana University East men's basketball team opens the 2009-10 regular season with games at Southern Oregon University and Oregon Institute of Technology.
The Red Wolves (23-9 last season) tip off against Southern Oregon (9-21 last season) at 6 p.m. Indiana time on Oct. 30.IU East's game at Oregon Tech (29-6 last season) starts at 10:30 p.m. Indiana time on Oct. 31.
Live video streaming is available for both games.
Click here for live video, live audio or live stats for the IU East-Southern Oregon game.
Click here for live video for the IU East-Oregon Tech game.
(You will be asked to create a viewer login that will allow you access to the Webcast).
Oregon Tech is a two-time NAIA Division II national champion, most recently in 2008. The Owls were 11th in the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll.
Both Oregon Tech and Southern Oregon are members of the Cascade Collegiate Conference, considered one of the best leagues in NAIA Division II.
"This is a big chance for our program to earn some recognition at the national level," said IU East coach Mark Hester, whose team is 26th in the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll. "When the opportunity came to play these games, we jumped at it. To be the best, you've got to beat the best. Now, we've got to rise to the occasion."
The Red Wolves return five of their top eight scorers, including top scorer Tyler Rigby (Bryant, Ind./Jay County High School), a junior guard who averaged 17 ppg last season.Southern Oregon preseason previews tout a pair of former NCAA Division I transfers, 6-8 post man Ryan Staker (formerly of UC Irvine) and 6-3 wing Justonn Smith (formerly of San Jose State).
Oregon Tech returns two starters. The Owls' top returnee is Justin Parnell (15.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 4.0 APG), an NAIA honorable mention selection.
Hester said IU East will have a similar game plan for both teams.
"We've got to do a really good job defensively of getting back in transition and controlling dribble penetration and really focusing on not letting some of their big guys getting going," Hester said.
"And then we've got to execute offensively. We've got to push the ball, and when we get in the half court we've got to really make them play defense."
TRAVELING MEN
IU East arrived in Oregon on Wednesday. The Red Wolves enjoyed a
train ride into downtown Portland and shopping time at Nike Town.
CHANCELLOR'S CHALLENGE
IU East Chancellor Nasser Paydar has challenged Oregon Tech President Chris Maples (@presidentmaples) on Twitter for the Oct. 31 game. If IU East wins, the OIT president has to wear an IU East shirt for a workday and post a photo on Twitter. Chancellor Paydar has to do the same if OIT wins.
WATCH THE GAMES!
Indiana University East fans can follow the men's basketball team through video streaming when the Red Wolves play Southern Oregon University on Oct. 30 and at Oregon Institute of Technology on Oct. 31.
Click here for live video, live audio or live stats for the IU East-Southern Oregon men's basketball game at 6 p.m. Oct. 30.
Click here for live video for the IU East-Oregon Tech men's basketball game at 10:30 p.m. Oct. 31.
