Hendricks helps IU Southeast pull away from RedStorm

Rio Grande Sports Information
     NEW ALBANY, Ind. - Indiana University Southeast's Jocobi Hendricks has shown the ability to score in high volume and with rapid dispatch throughout the course of the 2023-24 season.
     On Saturday afternoon, the University of Rio Grande got a first-hand look at the redshirt junior guard's prowess toward - to borrow a hockey term - putting the biscuit in the basket.
     Hendricks scored a game-high 40 points, including 27 in the second half, as the host Grenadiers pulled away for a 74-61 win over the RedStorm in River States Conference men's basketball action at the Student Activities Building.
     Lane Lauderbaugh teamed with Hendricks to form a crushing 1-2 punch for IUS, adding 27 points and a game-high 10 rebounds as the Grenadiers evened both their overall record (8-8) and conference mark (4-4) with the victory.
     The win also marked IUS' 11th triumph in 13 all-time meetings with the RedStorm.
     Rio Grande, which fell for the eighth time in its last nine games, slipped to 8-10 overall and 3-5 in league play as a result of the loss.
     The RedStorm hung tough throughout the opening half, though, rallying from a six-point deficit to knot the score at 26-all after a three-pointer by sophomore Trent Hundley (Mt. Orab, OH) with 3:03 left before halftime.
     Southeast closed the half on a 5-0 run - with all points scored by either Lauderbaugh or Hendricks - and never trailed again as Hendricks single-handedly went about the process of putting Rio away in the first six minutes of the second period.
     Hendricks scored his team's first 15 points after the break before Lauderbaugh - who netted 16 of his game total in the first half - reeled off eight straight markers to give the Grenadiers a commanding 54-38 cushion with 11:50 remaining.
     The IUS lead eventually grew to as many as 20 points, 65-45, after a three-pointer by Matthew Jones - one of only two other players besides Hendricks and Lauderbaugh to score for the home team - with 7:07 left to play.
     Rio Grande twice closed the gap to 13 points down the stretch, including the game's final margin, but got no closer the rest of the way.
     Hendricks finished 13-for-22 overall, 5-for-10 from three-point range and 9-for-10 from the foul line. The two-time NAIA Player of the Week scored 40 points or more for the fourth time this season.
     Lauderbaugh was 9-for-15 overall, 2-for-3 from distance and 7-for-10 at the foul line. He also had two assists, two steals and a blocked shot in the victory and his rebound total represented a season-high.
     Hundley finished with a career-high 30 points and blocked a pair of shots in the loss for Rio, while junior Will Hill (Dayton, OH) had a season-high 10 points.
     Senior Taylor Mack (Akron, OH) pulled down a team-high eight rebounds for the RedStorm, while sophomore Trey Robertson (Waverly, OH) handed out a game-high five assists.
     Rio hit just seven of its 25 three-point tries (28.0%) and was 22-for-57 from the floor overall (38.6%), while also ending up on the short end of a 38-24 rebounding tally.
     The RedStorm are scheduled to return to action on Thursday night when they open a two-game homestand against Brescia University at the Newt Oliver Arena.
     Tip time is slated for 7:30 p.m.