COAL GROVE - Ohio University Southern men's basketball coach Ron Reed long has been known as a stickler for strong defense.

Reed couldn't help but be pleased with his team's defense Saturday afternoon in a 67-39 victory over Indiana East at Coal Grove High School. The Trailblazers (6-10) held the Pioneers (0-14) to just 15 points in the second half. With just five minutes left in the game, Indiana East had scored just nine points in the period.

"Nine points against anybody is pretty good," Reed said.

Indiana East stayed close early, trailing just 19-15 midway through the first half. Former Rock Hill High School standout Rickie McDonie then scored Ohio Southern's next six points, sparking OUS to a 17-9 run that built the lead to 36-24 by halftime.

Reed wasn't pleased with his team's first half effort and at halftime stressed running the fast break, rebounding, crisp passes and better shot selection. The players apparently listened. Ohio Southern scored 13 of the first 15 points of the second half to take control.

"We got a win and we had guys play significant minutes," Reed said. "It was a plus situation for us."

Derek Withrow led the Trailblazers with 17 points. Patrick Smith scored 13 points and Gene Cotton added 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The Blazers held the Pioneers to 14-for-52 shooting (26 percent) including a mere 2-for-20 from 3-point range.

Ohio Southern has won two of its last three games and faces a stiff challenge Monday at Kentucky Christian.

"They're the No. 1 team i their division," Reed said of KCC. "They're very good. We have to play smart and we have to play better than we've been playing."

Indiana East

(39)

Jackson 0-1 0-1 0-0 0, Kircher 0-4 0-1 0-0 0, Russell 3-6 0-0 0-0 6, Lecklider 1-8 0-3 4-4 6, Marley 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Turner 2-9 1-6 2-2 7, Dale 2-7 0-3 2-3 6, Catter 1-2 0-1 0-0 2, Hawley 1-6 1-4 0-2 3, Powell 1-3 0-1 1-2 3, Dayadhurm 3-6 0-0 0-0 6. Totals: 14-52 2-20 9-13 39.

Ohio Southern

(67)

Withrow 7-14 2-7 1-2 17, Mauk 3-9 0-0 0-0 6, S. Mullins 0-1 0-01 0-0 0, Patten 0-1 0-0 0-0 0, Hudson 0-2 0-1 0-2 0, Fields 0-0 0-0 0-0 0, Cotton 5-12 1-3 0-0 11, Ballard 0-1 0-1 0-0 0, Pennington 4-5 0-0 0-0 8, McDonie 3-7 0-0 0-0 6, Smith 5-7 1-2 2-2 13, Z. Mullins 3-3 0-0 0-0 6. Totals: 30-62 4-14 3-6 67.

Halftime: OUSC 36, IUE 24. Rebounds: IUE 32 (Russell 7), OUSC 42 (Cotton 12). Team rebounds: IUE 4, OUSC 4. Deadball rebounds: IUE 2, OUSC 2. Turnovers: IUE 23, OUSC 18. Steals: IUE 4 (Hawley 2), OUSC 9 (Withrow 4). Blocked shots: IUE none, OUSC 2 (Mauk, Z. Mullins). Fouls: IUE 12, OUSC 18. Fouled out: Kircher, S. Mullins. Technical fouls: None.