IU Southeast Wins RSC Tournament Championship 68-60

KOKOMO, Ind. – The IU Southeast men's basketball team defeated IU Kokomo 68-60 to win the 2022-23 River States Conference Tournament Championship on Tuesday.

Jocobi Hendricks had 19 points, six rebounds and four steals in the win. Christian Stewart had 18 points and nine rebounds.

The Grenadiers shut down the Cougar offense in the opening minutes and held IU Kokomo to single-digit scoring until the 12:22 mark of the half when Zach Rinehart hit a three to cut the lead to 17-10.

IU Southeast forced 10 turnovers in the first half which led to 14 Grenadier points.

Christian Stewart made a layup and after a rebound and great outlet pass by Anthony Wales Jr., J.J. Reed laid it in to give the Grenadiers a 21-10 lead with 11:07 left in the half.

But the Cougars answered with a 15-4 run to tie the game.

Jocobi Hendricks made two free throws to put the Grenadiers in front 34-33 but Julien Hunter scored with 35 seconds left to put the Cougars in front 35-34 at halftime.

After a slow start IU Kokomo finished the half shooting 51 percent from the field.

Jocobi Hendricks was the offensive spark for the Grenadiers. He led IU Southeast with 13 points on 3-of-7 shooting from three-point range and also had four steals.

In the second half, Hunter Jackson hit two free-throws to extend the IU Kokomo lead to 45-38 with 15:56 to play.

The Cougars kept the Grenadiers at arm's length as the Grenadiers tried to chip away when Ty Wills hit two free-throws to make the score 50-45 with 12:45 left.

Then the Grenadiers used a 17-2 run to pull away for good. Jocobi Hendricks tied the game with a jumper and then a three-point play put the Grenadiers in front 55-52. 

Christian Stewart completed a three-point play to push the lead to six and consecutive jumpers by Hendricks extended the IU Southeast lead to 62-52 with 5:42 to play.

The Cougars chipped away at the lead but IU Southeast had an answer. Christian Stewart got a tough layup to go to extend the lead to 64-55 with two minutes to play.

A three-pointer by Xavier Hines cut the lead to 66-60 but Hendricks hit two free-throws and Wales grabbed the last rebound of the night to secure the RSC Tournament title.

IU Southeast held IU Kokomo to just 5-fo-18 shooting in the second half.

IU Southeast will learn its NAIA Opening Round destination on Thursday during the NAIA Men's Basketball Selection Show.