Red Wolves - IU East

GARY - The Red Wolves went small and won big.

The Indiana University East men's basketball team used a three- and four-guard lineup effectively in a 98-65 win at Indiana University Northwest on Dec. 5.

"That was the best 40-minute effort we've gotten in a long time," said IU East coach Mark Hester.

IU East beat IU Northwest at its own game.

The Red Wolves made a season-high 14 3-point field goals. IU East also limited IU Northwest to 2 of 19 shooting from 3-point range. The RedHawks were in the NAIA Division II's top 50 in 3-point field goals per game and 3-point accuracy entering the game.

Even the IU Northwest public address announcer at one point exclaimed, "These Red Wolves can shoot the ball!"

Said Hester: "It was nice to see our shooting back."

IU East improved to 6-4. IU Northwest fell to 3-8.

"We accomplished everything we wanted to do tonight," senior guard Bijon Jones (Jackson, Tenn./Southeast Missouri State University) said during the bus ride home.

Junior guard Tyler Rigby (Bryant, Ind./Jay County High School) led six Red Wolves in double figures with 18 points.

Junior guard Brent Burris (Indianapolis, Ind.) just missed a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing nine rebounds.

The Red Wolves went on a 20-2 run to put the game away after the RedHawks got within 47-42 early in the second half.

Jesse Howell, a former IU East player, led IU Northwest with 17 points.

The Red Wolves held the RedHawks' Pete Trgovich II to 14 points. Trgovich entered the game fifth in the NAIA Division II in scoring at 26.2 points per game.

"We played great team defense," Hester said.

IU East plays at NCAA Division II opponent Northern Kentucky University on Dec. 8. The game is an exhibition for the Red Wolves but is a regular season game for NKU. Tipoff time is 7 p.m.