Red Wolves - IU East

WILMORE, Ky. - It stood out in big bold letters at the top of the game plan board in the Indiana University East men's basketball locker room.

"MUST DEFEND THE BALL."

The Red Wolves didn't do it, and it proved a big reason for their 94-81 Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference loss on Feb. 4 at Asbury College.

IU East (12-10, 4-4) missed a chance to move into second place in the KIAC standings.

Asbury (13-12, 5-3) won its fourth consecutive game. The Eagles also avenged an 84-56 loss in Richmond last month.

Asbury guards Adam Delph (29 points) and Phillip Morrison (28 points) drove through and around the IU East defense for a combined 57 points to lead the Eagles.

"Phillip Morrison and Adam Delph are just better with the ball than we are at defending it," said Red Wolves coach Mark Hester. "They created all kinds of havoc for our defense. That was the absolute story of the game."

The Eagles shot .523 from the field and enjoyed an 18-4 advantage in fast break points.

The game was tied at 68 with eight minutes left, but Asbury went on a 12-2 run to take control. The Red Wolves got no closer than nine the rest of the way.

IU East had rallied from a 10-point deficit and worked its way into a brief lead before fading down the stretch.

"They made shots," Hester said. "And I don't know our percentage the last eight minutes, but it wasn't good. We got out of what we had done to get back onto the game."

Junior guard Tyler Rigby (Bryant, Ind./Jay County High School) led IU East with 26 points - his 12th consecutive game with at least 20 points.

Senior guard Bijon Jones (Jackson, Tenn./Southeast Missouri State University) had 24 points, 12 rebounds and four assists for the Red Wolves.

IU East fell to 5-9 in games played away from Richmond.

"That sense of urgency to prove something was not there," Hester said. "I didn't want us to take (Asbury) lightly, and we did. You could tell by our effort and body posture."

The Red Wolves met just two of the 13 goals the players set for themselves before the game.

IU East next plays Feb. 6 at College of Mount St. Joseph. Tipoff is at 3 p.m.

The game is scheduled to be broadcast on 930 WHON-AM and www.930whon.com.

INJURY NOTE

IU East sophomore guard David Sanders was limited to 16 minutes because of a thigh injury, but is expected to be able to play Feb. 6.