RedStorm squashes late run, pulls away from IU East

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - Given the way that their games have gone of late, perhaps the University of Rio Grande men's basketball team should consider referring to themselves as "the plumbing company" instead of the RedStorm.
     Why you might ask?
     Because in the game's waning minutes, with the final outcome still in doubt, head coach Ryan Arrowood's squad has developed a habit of turning off the opposition's water.
     Indiana University East sliced a 22-point second half deficit down to six with just under five minutes to play, but managed only four points the rest of the way allowing the RedStorm to pull away again for an 86-69 victory over the Red Wolves, Saturday afternoon, in River States Conference men's basketball action at the Newt Oliver Arena.
     Rio Grande, which remained among the teams receiving votes in the latest NAIA coaches' Top 25 poll, improved to 17-5 overall and 11-1 in RSC play with its third straight triumph and its first in 15 all-time meetings against IU East.
     The Red Wolves, who had a three-game winning streak snapped, slipped to 12-10 overall and 6-6 in league play with the loss.
     Rio Grande grabbed the lead for good midway through the opening half and used a 15-3 run to open up an 18-point cushion, 44-26, after a bucket by graduate senior Mike Cody (Cookeville, TN) with 3:40 remaining before halftime.
     The advantage settled at 16 points by halftime, but grew to its largest point of the day - 22 points - after a three-pointer by Cody with 12:19 remaining made it 67-45.
     At that point, though, the visitors began a furious comeback attempt and reeled off 20 of the game's next 24 points, closing the gap to 71-65 following a Jamisen Smith three-pointer with 4:57 left to play.
     But from that point on, the Red Wolves found themselves dealing with Rio's pipe-wielding defensive effort.
     IUE went just 1-for-6 from the field, while also committing four turnovers, the rest of the way.
     Rio Grande was 4-for-6 from the floor and 7-for-8 at the foul line over the same period, scoring the game's final eight points. The RedStorm also had just one turnover in the final five minutes.
     Junior Miki Tadic (Hilversum, The Netherlands) led four double-digit scorers for Rio with 21 points, while senior Shiloah Blevins (South Webster, OH) added 20 points to go along with a game-high 10 rebounds.
     The RedStorm also got 12 points apiece from Cody and freshman Kaden Warner (Cincinnati, OH).
     Rio Grande finished 33-for-61 overall (54.1%) and 14-for-19 from the foul line (73.7%), while outrebounding the Red Wolves, 40-28.
     IU East shot 45.8 percent overall (27-for-59), but went just 7-for-14 at the foul line (50.0%).
     Reigning RSC Player of the Week Jake Johnson scored 23 points to lead the Wolves in a losing cause, while Colt Meyer had 18 points and Kobe Ward snared six rebounds.
     Tobey Billups added a game-high six assists for East.
     Rio Grande returns to action on Tuesday when it plays its final non-conference game of the season at Rochester (Mich.) University.
     Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.