Red Wolves - IU East

CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. - The Red Wolves controlled the things they could control.

Things like pushing the pace. Things like rebounding. Things like talking on defense.

As a result, the Indiana University East men's basketball team also had complete control of its game Dec. 28 against Mount Union College.

The Red Wolves rolled to a 80-62 victory against the Purple Raiders on the final day of the Thomas More College Coach Connor Classic.

IU East split its two games at the two-day event. The Red Wolves fell in overtime against Baldwin-Wallace College on Dec. 27.

One day later, one of IU East's most spirited efforts of the season also was one of its most effective.

The Red Wolves trailed just once - for a grand total of 49 seconds - and led by as many as 25 in the second half.

"This game shows that coaches can scheme and 'x' and 'o' all they want to, but the secret to success lies with the players," IU East coach Mark Hester said.

"When they play with the intensity and effort they showed tonight, it's a beautiful thing."

Junior guard Tyler Rigby (Bryant, Ind./Jay County High School) got the Red Wolves going with 11 points in the first five minutes.

Rigby finished with 20 points and was named IU East's Player of the Game by tournament officials.

"I liked shooting in that gym," said Rigby, who went for 22 points on Dec. 27. "My teammates were setting good screens so I was open, and I was bale to knock down shots."

Junior guard Brent Burris (Indianapolis, Ind.) added 18 points and eight rebounds.

"Brent told us at Fazoli's (during the team's pregame meal) that he was going for a double-double," Rigby said. "No one believed him, but I guess we should have taken him more seriously."

Sophomore guard David Sanders (Indianapolis, Ind./Beech Grove High School) contributed 11 points and a team-high four assists.

IU East's game keys were pushing the pace, controlling the boards and communicating on defense.

Mission accomplished - for the most part - on all three counts.

The Red Wolves had a 10-2 advantage in fast break points, part of a 46-14 advantage in points on the paint.

They enjoyed a 42-34 rebounding advantage.

Their talk on defense limited the Purple Raiders to 29 percent shooting in the second half.

"I thought we did an excellent job on those (game keys), especially compared to where we had been," Hester said.

IU East went on a 12-0 run early in the second half to extend its lead to 17. Mount Union would get no closer than 14 the rest of the way.

"We were having fun," Rigby said. "When you're having fun, you'll do a lot better at what you're doing."

Dave Pellerite led the Purple Raiders with 18 points.

IU East returns to action Jan. 2 at Union College (Ky.). Tipoff is at 2 p.m.