(RV) IU Southeast gets past No. 7 IU East In RSC Men's Basketball Game of the Week
By IU Southeast Sports Information:
NEW ALBANY, Ind. – IU Southeast led by as many as 19 and never trailed on its way to defeating No.7 IU East, 104-95, on Saturday in the River States Conference Men's Basketball Game of the Week.
It was a showdown of RSC Division leaders and a key matchup in the race for the best conference record in the regular season. With the win, IU Southeast (17-4, 11-1 RSC) remains with one loss in RSC play while IU East (19-6, 10-2 RSC) took its second defeat in the conference.
The IU Southeast backcourt of Demetrius Stanton and Jamie Johnson combined to score 57 out of the Grenadiers' 104 points.
Stanton finished with 30 points, and Johnson had 27 in the win. Robert Sawyer had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Joe Jackson had 13 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks.
The Grenadiers crashed the glass early and converted on second-chance opportunities. IU Southeast led IU East, 12-4, in second-chance points in the first half and outscored the Red Wolves 24-16.
The IU Southeast defense was strong early and forced the Red Wolves into contested shots. In the first half, IU Southeast held IU Southeast to 32-percent shooting (11-of-34) from the field and blocked six shots, including three blocks from Joe Jackson.
IU Southeast pulled away late in the half and led, 51-34, at halftime. Stanton, Jackson and Johnson hit 3-pointers down the stretch to extend the Grenadiers led late in the opening half.
The Red Wolves started the second half on a 6-0 run, which forced an IU Southeast timeout. Stanton responded with a basket and a trey on back-to-back possessions.
The Grenadiers went on a 12-4 run to lead 78-61 with 8:42 left. The Red Wolves would not go quietly but were hampered by 2-of-15 shooting from three-point range.
IU East's Jacoby Claypool had a game-high 33 points on 12-of-21 shooting. Jordan Furlow battled foul trouble throughout the game and finished with 20 points. Kyle Pipenger added 11 points, and Aaron Thomas had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
IU East cut the lead to 85-77 with 3:57 left, but the Grenadiers secured the win at the free-throw line where they shot 21-of-26 in the second half.
IU Southeast hosts IU Kokomo on Tuesday at 8 p.m. while IU East travels to Point Park on Friday.