Indiana University East News

IU East News

Wed, Feb 17, 2010 - [Men's Basketball]

The Red Wolves host Brescia University on Feb. 18.

A 24-hour stretch of basketball Feb. 18 and 19 will go a long way toward determining if the Indiana University East men's basketball team will earn the right to host a first-round game in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament.

The Red Wolves (13-12, 5-6 KIAC) host #30 Brescia University (19-9, 8-3) on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Richmond High School Tiernan Center.

IU East could clinch a top-four spot in the KIAC standings and the right to host a KIAC Tournament quarterfinal with a win against the Bearcats coupled with a Cincinnati Christian University win against Asbury College on Feb. 19. (See below for all of IU East's KIAC Tournament scenarios).

"We're fighting for a first-round home game, so hopefully that will motivate us," said IU East coach Mark Hester.

Brescia holds second place in the KIAC standings.

The game originally was scheduled for Feb. 9, but was postponed because of adverse weather across Kentucky and Indiana.

The Bearcats have won four in a row. Brescia defeated the Red Wolves 86-75 in Owensboro earlier this season.

The Bearcats boast the potent one-two scoring punch of senior guard Andrew Howard and senior forward Anthony Ingram.

Howard averages 20 points per game and ranks in the NAIA Division II's top 50 in six offensive categories.

Ingram adds 18.4 points per game, including a 34-point outing in the first IU East-Brescia meeting.

Hester respects Howard but said Ingram poses the tougher matchup for the Red Wolves' personnel.

"Someone has got to step up on defense," Hester said. "And Brescia does an excellent job taking you out of your comfort zone on offense."

IU East gets 19 points per game from junior guard Tyler Rigby (Bryant, Ind./Jay County High School).

Sophomore guard David Sanders contributes 9.9 points per game and is 35th in the NAIA Division II with 4.2 assists per game.

IU East seeks its first victory against Brescia since joining the NAIA for the 2007-08 season.

The Red Wolves are 8-1 at home.

FOLLOW LIVE

The IU East-Brescia game will be broadcast live on NewsTalk 930 WHON-AM and www.930whon.com.

Live stats will be available at www.iueredwolves.com.

The game also will be rebroadcast on Whitewater Community Television, WCTV, Comcast Channel 20.

Broadcast dates are Feb. 21 at 3 a.m., 7 a.m., 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

IU East fans now can get score updates sent to their cell phone during the game. Just text FOLLOW IUESCORES to 40404. Updates will be sent midway through each half, at halftime and after the game.

KIAC TOURNAMENT SCENARIOS

IU East is still in contention for a top-four spot in the KIAC standings, which would give the Red Wolves the right to host a KIAC Tournament quarterfinal on Feb. 23.

If IU East wins its last two games: IU East will finish fourth in the KIAC standings

If IU East wins one of its last two games: IU East will finish fourth in the KIAC standings if Asbury College loses Feb. 19 against Cincinnati Christian University.

If IU East loses its last two games: IU East will finish fifth in the KIAC standings.

BRESCIA UNIVERSITY ...

Ranks Number 10 in Division II in Free Throw Pct (0.734)

Ranks Number 11 in Division II in 3-Pt Fg Pct Defense (0.301)

Ranks Number 30 in Division II in Total Rebound Defense (33.571)

Ranks Number 31 in Division II in 3-Pt Fg Pct (0.361)

Ranks Number 45 in Division II in Scoring Defense per Game (70.607)

Ranks Number 46 in Division II in Scoring Margin (4.893)

Ranks Number 48 in Division II in Turnover Margin (0.857)

Ranks Number 50 in Division II in 3-Pt Fg Made per Game (6.750)

INDIANA UNIVERSITY EAST ...

Ranks Number 17 in Division II in Scoring Offense per Game (83.880)