Rejuvenated Red Wolves reach two records in road win

2/22/2012 12:00:00 AM

WILMORE, Ky. - The Red Wolves went from one of their worst practices of the year to the best shooting performance in school history in just two days.

The Indiana University East men's basketball team set a school record for shooting percentage in a single game and broke the program's NAIA record for victories in a season with a 93-72 Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win on Feb. 21 at Asbury University.

The NAIA Division II No. 17 Red Wolves conclude the regular season with a 24-6 overall record (11-2 KIAC).

IU East's previous high for wins in a season was 23 by the 2008-09 and 2010-11 teams.

"I'm more worried about getting the next win," said IU East coach Mark Hester. "I'd like for us to get on a nine-game winning streak (which would carry the Red Wolves to a national championship). That would mean far more to me than getting 24 wins."

The Red Wolves will face Asbury (11-16, 5-8) again Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. in the opening round of the KIAC tournament. The game will be played at Earlham College.

IU East's players and coaches followed up a sluggish workout Sunday morning with a heart-to-heart talk Sunday night. The Red Wolves responded with a solid workout Monday morning that carried over to the game at Asbury.

The Red Wolves jumped ahead 22-9 and led by double digits the rest of the way.

"It all started with energy," said freshman guard Tyler Fangman (Cold Spring, Ky./Beechwood High School). "The IU Southeast game (a loss on Feb. 16) we had no energy. Today we had a lot of energy, everyone was pulling for each other, and when you have that kind of energy, you get shots to fall."

IU East set the school record for field goal percentage in a single game with a .625 field goal percentage (40 of 64).

"We know we are usually going to shoot well, but not like that," Hester said. "I wasn't aware we were shooting that well."

Senior guard David Sanders (Indianapolis, Ind./Beech Grove High School) and sophomore guard Matt Trimnell (Seymour, Ind./Seymour High School) led IU East with 17 points apiece.

Dakotah Euton scored 26 points for Asbury.

Click here for the IU East-Asbury box score.