RICHMOND, Ind. — Indiana Northwest secured an impressive 93-80 victory over Indiana East on Tuesday evening at Lingle Court, riding a balanced offensive attack and dominant play in the paint to improve to 8-1 on the season.

The RedHawks were led by Anthony Taylor, who tallied 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting while adding four assists and three steals. Ladaion Barnes chipped in 17 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line, and Dannie Smith contributed 16 points and six rebounds. Trace Williams nearly recorded a double-double with 15 points and eight rebounds, while Caleb Jenkins added a double-double of his own with 13 points and 11 boards.

Indiana Northwest's efficiency proved to be the difference, as the RedHawks shot 53.8% (35 of 65) from the field and outscored the Red Wolves 56-44 in the paint. They also capitalized on Indiana East's 15 turnovers, turning them into 22 points while committing just 10 turnovers of their own. The RedHawks' defensive intensity held Indiana East to 26.1% shooting (6 of 23) from beyond the arc.

Indiana East (5-4) was paced by Tobey Billups and Jake Johnson, who scored 17 points apiece. Johnson shot 5 of 8 from three-point range, while Billups added six assists. Kyle Tolbert contributed 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds, but the Red Wolves struggled to match Indiana Northwest's consistency.

The game remained tightly contested in the first half, with both teams shooting above 54% from the floor. The RedHawks held a slim 46-45 lead at the break but broke the game open in the second half. Indiana Northwest used a 13-2 run midway through the period to stretch its lead to double digits, fueled by strong inside play and timely defensive stops.

Indiana Northwest also controlled the boards, finishing with a 37-31 rebounding advantage, including nine offensive rebounds. Despite a solid bench contribution from Indiana East, which outscored the RedHawks' reserves 25-13, the Red Wolves couldn't overcome their struggles with turnovers and defensive lapses.

The RedHawks will look to extend their winning streak to six in their next game when they travel to Notre Dame, Indiana, where they will put their undefeated 3-0 CCAC record on the line against Holy Cross College (4-5, 2-1 CCAC). Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CST.


Recap by PJ Katona

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