NAIA

[Men's Basketball] Titans pull away, topple Rio men

Rio Grande Sports Information    MARION, Ind. – Despite being short-handed, banged up and the third seed in a three-team pod, the University of Rio Grande men's basketball team made it clear that going away quietly was not part of its gameplan.    But when all was said and done, grittiness alone couldn't get the RedStorm a victory.    Head coach Ryan Arrowood's club erased a 12-point second half deficit with just over five minutes to play, but Indiana University South Bend regrouped and pulled away again for an 82-71 victory, Friday night, in the opening round of the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship.    The game was part of the Marion "B" Bracket at Indiana Wesleyan University's Luckey Arena.    IU South Bend, the No. 2 seed in the bracket, improved to 7-0 and advanced to Saturday's title game against top-seeded – and top-ranked – Indiana Wesleyan.    Rio Grande finished 16-10 with the loss in a game which featured eight ties and 10 lead changes.