NAIA Game of the Week
No. 17 Indiana Southeast (20-7, 10-1 KIAC) at No. 11 Indiana East (23-5, 10-1 KIAC)
Thursday, Richmond, Ind., Tiernan Center, 7 p.m. EST
-The Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) regular-season title comes down to Thursday’s game between No. 11 Indiana East and No. 17 Indiana Southeast. Both programs are tied for the conference lead at 10-1 heading into the final portion of the regular season. IU Southeast has won at least a share of the last four KIAC regular-season crowns.
-The Grenadiers beat Indiana East, 107-92, the last time these teams met on Jan. 3. Three players hit for 20-plus points in the IU Southeast victory. The Grenadiers shot a sparkling 63 percent from the field.
-IU Southeast leads the all-time series 9-2, since IU East joined the NAIA in 2007. The Red Wolves are 2-2 against IU Southeast at home since joining the NAIA.
-IU East’s next win will set a single-season school record for victories. The Red Wolves currently have 23 wins, matching the final total for the 2008-09 and 2010-11 teams. The Red Wolves are 7-0 at home and could finish the regular season with a perfect home record for the first time. IU Southeast has seen success on the road with a 9-4 true road record.
-IU Southeast has won five games in-a-row on the year and 11 of its last 12. The Grenadiers rank fifth in the NAIA in scoring (85.6 ppg) and also rank among the elite in 3-point field goals per game and overall field goal percentage. Sophomore forward Joe Lawson tops the club at 11.2 points and adds over six boards.
-Currently on a six-game winning streak, IU East has topped the century mark five times this year. The Red Wolves rank second in the NAIA in scoring offense (88.0 ppg) and sixth in 3-pointers made per game (8.9). Marcus Isaac leads the team and is 23rd in the country in scoring (19.3).
-IU East wraps up the regular season with a road game at Asbury (Ky.) on Feb. 21. IU Southeast heads back home on Saturday to host Asbury.
-The KIAC tournament is scheduled for Feb. 25 – 28 and the higher seeds host the first round games.