In December, when the Grenadiers of Indiana University Southeast were forced to forfeit nine early season contests, a team with an NAIA Tournament-caliber non-conference resume knew their only path to the dance would be as conference champions.
Call it the road less travelled, but a road that leads to glory nonetheless.
For the second time in four years, IU Southeast claimed the River States Conference Tournament title on the floor of in-state rival Indiana University Kokomo, winning their second straight road game by a 87-83 margin Tuesday night in Kokomo. The Grenadiers will now play in the NAIA Tournament for the third time in the last four seasons.
For the first eleven minutes, not much separated the Cougars and the Grenadiers, with neither team leading by more than four points. At the 8:50 mark of the first half, Cole Thomas (6'1''-G) drilled a three-pointer to give IU Southeast a 28-25 lead, which would prove to start a major Grenadier surge. In the final 8:50, IU Southeast outscored the Cougars by a 18-6 margin, taking a 43-31 lead into the halftime break.
The West Division champions from IU Kokomo weren't about to make it easy for the Grenadiers, as the home team slowly chipped their way back into the contest. The Cougars got as close as one point, as a three-pointer from Alonzo Clawson-Smith (6'0''-PG) made it 68-67 with 6:30 to play. The Grenadiers responded with a 9-1 run over the next two and a half minutes, pushing the Grenadier lead back to nine, 77-68.
The game came down to free throw shooting, as the Cougars got back to within one score twice in the final 30 seconds. Up three, Trent Hinkle (5'10''-G) made a pair of free throws with 17 seconds left to get the lead back to five. After a three-pointer by Joseph Annan (6'6''-F), Jr. made it a two-point game, Hinkle went back to the free throw line, needing to make both. He did just that, essentially sealing the title for the Grenadiers.
Trent Hinkle was sensational for the conference champions, scoring 29 points and pulling down ten rebounds. The Louisville native was joined in double figures by Cole Thomas (12), Camden Pfeister (6'4''-G) (11), and Ethan Haddaway (6'9''-F) (11). IU Kokomo's efforts were led by Alonzo Clawson-Smith, who scored 25 points. Kedric Anderson (6'5''-F) added 18 points off the bench.
Most NAIA men's basketball prognosticators now consider the River States Conference a three-bid league, with IU Kokomo considered a likely at-large selection to the NAIA Tournament. The Grenadiers, the regular season champion Shawnee State Bears, and potentially the Cougars will learn their fates Thursday evening, when the NAIA broadcasts its selection show.

Courtesy of riverstatesconference.com

Final:
IU Kokomo - IU Southeast 83-87

Semis:
IU Kokomo - Rio Grande 78-73
Shawnee State - IU Southeast 70-82