Hot Shooting Rio Grande Blows Past IU Southeast In RSC First Round

RIO GRANDE, Ohio – John Kinnaird Jr. had a career-high 21 points, David Burton had 17 points and six rebounds and Anthony Wales Jr. added 10 points but it was not enough as Rio Grande defeated the Grenadiers 80-68 in the first round of the River States Conference Men's Basketball Championship on Monday.

Rio Grande (14-8) came out on fire offensively. The Grenadiers (4-6) trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half (31-16) as the RedStorm shot 59 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes and were 8-of-14 from three-point range.

IU Southeast was almost as good as they shot 50 percent from the field but only hit two three-point field goals in the first half. The Grenadiers trailed 47-35 at halftime. David Burton had 13 points and Anthony Wales Jr. had 10 in the first half.

The RedStorm's Andrew Shull was the difference in the opening half of play as he scored 19 of his 26 points in the period to help Rio Grande pull away.

A three-point field by Caleb Wallis extened the Rio Grande lead to 76-56 with just under seven minutes to play in the game, but the Grenadiers began to force turnovers which stalled the RedStorm offense.

IU Southeast forced seven turnovers in the second-half and only allowed three three-point field goals as they attempted the comeback.

The Grenadiers used a 12-2 run to cut the deficit to 78-68 with just over two minutes to play but the Grenadiers would not get closer.

John Kinnaird Jr. got the Grenadiers back in the game in the second half as he scored 14 of his 21 points in the final 20 minutes.

Andrew Shull had a game-high 26 points for Rio Grande, Cam Schreiter had 14 points, Miki Tedic had 12 points and nine rebounds and Redreetris Richardson added 11 points in the win.