IU East News
CINCINNATI - It's been something different each time.
On this day, turnovers and a slow start proved the culprit in an Indiana University East men's basketball loss.
The Red Wolves whittled a 16-point deficit down to three before falling 68-61 against No. 17 Warner University in the opening game of the Cincinnati Christian Tipoff Classic.IU East (0-3) has been within one possession in the final minute in all three of its games this season.
"As happy as I was at Oregon (where IU East opened the season with two tough losses against strong teams), I was as disappointed tonight," IU East coach Mark Hester said. "We came out flat.
"I could tell on the bus ride that we were in trouble tonight."
The Red Wolves were down 16-4 and 20-7 soon after getting off that bus ride.
The Red Wolves trailed 49-33 before mounting a rally. IU East got within 61-58 after a layup by Justin Hawkins (Evansville, Ind./Kentucky Wesleyan College) with 50 seconds to go, but the Royals made seven of eight free throws the rest of the way to seal the win.
"That's the only good thing," Hester said. "We didn't quit, but even when we weren't quitting, we weren't getting effort, and it's hard to win games when you do that."
Hawkins and Noah Douglas (Indianapolis, Ind./St. Joseph's College) scored 12 points apiece for the Red Wolves. Bijon Jones (Jackson, Tenn./Southeast Missouri State University) added 11 off of the bench.
Derell Henderson, a third-team NAIA All-American last season, led Warner Southern with 19 points.
Twenty-five turnovers also hurt the Red Wolves. Warner had an 18-0 advantage in points off turnovers in the first half.
"We didn't have 25 turnovers total in Oregon," Hester said. "Again, it was a mental thing. We didn't come play."
IU East concludes the CCU event with a game against Miami University Hamilton at 1 p.m. Nov. 7.
