Red Wolves - IU East

RICHMOND -  Rigby record. And a Red Wolves romp.

The Indiana University East men's basketball team had plenty of reasons to celebrate Jan. 9.

Junior guard Tyler Rigby (Bryant, Ind./Jay County High School) broke the school's NAIA career scoring record as IU East beat Alice Lloyd College 89-65 in a Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest at the Richmond High School Tiernan Center.

IU East (9-7, 1-1) snapped a two-game losing streak. Alice Lloyd (4-9, 0-1) has lost four in a row.

Rigby scored a game-high 21 points to boost his career points total to 824.

The previous IU East NAIA career scoring record was 810, established by Joe Ramey at the conclusion of the 2007-08 season.

"It's really not a big deal to me," Rigby said. "But it's good to be in the history books and to feel like I accomplished something for this school."

Rigby tied the record on a 3-pointer with 11:31 remaining in the first half.

He broke the record on a tough drive with 3:56 to go in the first half, a basket that put the Red Wolves ahead 34-22.

"I'm very happy for him," said IU East coach Mark Hester. "He's worked hard for it, and he deserves it."

Hester said Rigby said nothing about the impending record during the Red Wolves' workout the day before the game.

Instead, he spent time after practice recruiting a group to visit students at Highland Heights School in Richmond.

"That shows what kind of kid he is," Hester said.

Rigby's record was the highlight, but the game was decided on an IU East counterpunch early in the second half.

Alice Lloyd opened the second half with an 11-0 run to cut a 14-point IU East halftime lead down to 45-42.

The Red Wolves responded with a 14-0 run of their own to put the game out of reach.

IU East would lead by as much as 26 points.

"By far our best 40-minute effort of the year," Rigby said.

Hester didn't completely agree - he still remembered the Eagles' surge at the start of the second half - but was generally pleased with his team's effort.

Senior forward Noah Douglas (Indianapolis, Ind./St. Joseph's College) came off of the bench and contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds.

"That's Dwight Howard stuff," sophomore guard Steve Shepherd told Douglas in the locker room, comparing Douglas to the Orlando Magic superstar.

Senior guard Bijon Jones (Jackson, Tenn./Southeast Missouri State University) added 15 points and seven assists.

Daniel Combs led Alice Lloyd with 20 points.

The Red Wolves limited the Eagles' leading scorer, Nick Brumback, to seven points.

IU East hosts KIAC foe Asbury College at 7 p.m. on Jan. 14 in the Richmond High School Tiernan Center.