Score: Keiser 59, University of Rio Grande 67
Records: Keiser (1-6), Rio Grande (4-4)
Location: Kingsport, Tenn., NAIA Division II Showcase
KU Starters: Radulovic (G), Fisher (G), Orlic (F), Gedeon (F), Matic (F)
Rio Grande Starters: Short (G), Anthony (G), Tiggs (G), Schreiter (F), Russell (C)

Keiser Highlights

•  Marko Radulovic had a double-double effort with 13 points and a game-high along with a new career-high of 13 rebounds.
• Andrija Matic led the Seahawks with 14 points.
• Bryce Thurston came off the bench to shoot 3-of-5 from beyond the arc for nine points.

 
Turning Point
Keiser whittled it down to a two-possession ball game late on two separate occasions, the second time at 55-51 Rio Grande with 6:29 to play. The Red Storm however held on down the stretch to earn the victory.
 
How it Happened

• Keiser went scoreless for the first 4:26 of the opening half, which allowed the Red Storm of Rio Grande to go in front 11-0 until Radulovic scored in the paint for the Seahawks' first basket with 15:34 on the clock.
• Over the next six minutes, the two teams were exchanging baskets until the Seahawks drew to within single digits following two free-throws from Aaron Gedeon to make it 18-10 Rio Grande.
• The Seahawks trimmed the deficit to the smallest of the fist half, six points, 24-18 following a triple from Matt Mckewin with 5:13 left until the intermission.
• However, the Red Storm went on a 15-5 run to build their largest lead of the game, 39-23, before Mckewin beat the horn to bring the teams to the locker room at 39-25.
• Marko Orlic opened the second half scoring with a basket and the foul, making the free-throw to put the score at 39-28.
• The Seahawks were unable to draw within single digits however until a Matic basket with 11:35 to play made it 49-40 Red Storm.
• The Matic score came in the midst of what was a 13-4 Seahawk spurt as capped off by a three pointer from Thurston, dwindling the Rio Grande advantage to just four points, 53-49 with 7:13 to play.
• Rio Grande scored in the paint on the next possession, but then Javen Soto converted from in close as well to make it 55-51 with 6:29 on the clock.
• The Red Storm responded with a game changing 10-2 run to push their lead all the way up to 12 points, 65-53, with 1:56 remaining.
• Although Thurston drained two more three-pointers in the final moments, Rio Grande was able to secure the 67-59 victory.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Keiser was able to produce 21 points from the bench, its highest output so far in 2018-2019.
• The Seahawks won the turnover battle 15-11, and turned the Red Storm miscues into 19 points on the other end.
• Keiser's 11 steals were a new season-high, with three coming from Orlic.

Game Notes

• It was the first ever meeting between the two sides.
• Radulovic set a new career-high with his 13 rebounds from the guard spot.
   

Ties: 1 (0-0)
Lead Changes: 0
Largest Lead: Keiser (NA), Rio Grande (16)
 
Team Leaders
Keiser
Points: Matic (14)
Rebounds: Radulovic (13)
Assists: Radulovic, Orlic (2)
 
Rio Grande
Points: Short (16)
Rebounds: Russell (10)
Assists: Short (7)
 
Up Next
Keiser (1-6, 0-2 TSC) returns to play in The Sun Conference when it travels to face Ave Maria (6-2, 1-1 TSC) on Thursday, November 29 at 7:30 p.m.