RICHMOND, Ind. – Led by Tanner Watkins third straight 25+-point game, the Indiana Tech men's basketball game ended a four-game losing streak with arguably their biggest win of the season, a 93-86 victory over No. 18 Indiana University-East at the Tiernan Center on Tuesday night.

Watkins opened the scoring with a three-pointer and a jumper from Lavonte Davis gave the Warriors (6-10) the early 5-0 lead and Franklin Lindsey followed the Red Wolves (12-3) first score with a jumper from behind the arc to push the lead to six. The home team answered Tech with an 11-4 run to take their first lead of the game, 13-12. Back-to-back scores from Chester McFadden and Arben Camaj put Tech back up three but seven unanswered points by IUE gave the home team a four-point lead. A Josh Fleming jumper with eight minutes to play cut the deficit to two, but again the Red Wolves answered, using an 11-3 run to take a 10-point, 35-25 lead. The Orange and Black scored five of the final seven points in the half to cut the deficit to seven, 42-35.

Davis scored the first three points of the second half and Lindsey and Tyrese Edwards followed with a pair of jumpers to cut the deficit to two, but another 10-3 run by the home team made it 54-45. Lindsey hit a three to end the run and Camaj hit a jumper followed by a Watkins three-pointer cut the deficit back to one. Over the next two minutes the two teams tied five times, until Davis hit a jumper with 8:39 to play to give the Warriors the lead for good. Watkins hit a trey to push the lead to four and the Warriors hit their free throws down the stretch to salt away their first win over a ranked team since defeating 25th-ranked Lourdes Dec. 14, 2013.

Tech shot 45.6 percent (31-for-68) from the field, 38.5 percent (10-for-26) from behind the arc and 77.8 percent (21-for-27) from the charity stripe while grabbing 41 rebounds and scoring 20 points in the paint. At the defensive end, the Red Wolves shot 45.6 percent (31-for-68) from the floor with 37 rebounds and 28 points in the paint.

Watkins finished with a game-high 27 points, finishing 7-for-13 from long range with Fleming adding 20 points and nine rebounds. Lindsey recorded a double-double with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds while Davis added 12 points and Edwards led the team with seven assists.

"This was a great team win on the road against a very good team," said Tech Head Coach John Peckinpaugh. "We played well but we need to continue improving to get to where we want to be."

The Warriors return to Kline Court in the Schaefer Center for the next contest on Saturday, Jan. 3 against conference foe Madonna with tip schedule for 3 p.m.

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