KOKOMO, Ind. – With a River States Conference regular season championship on the line, the Indiana University Kokomo men's basketball team answered the call, defeating IU Southeast 69-48 to claim their first conference championship in program history. 
 
Fifth-year seniors Desean Hampton and Allante Harper stepped up in big ways as the duo combined for 31 points in the victory. Harper led all scorers with 18 points while Hampton registered his 12th double-double of the year and fourth straight, finishing with 13 points and 21 rebounds, tying his career-high. Hampton also blocked four shots. 
 
Hunter White and Darian Porch both played 26 minutes and scored 12 points. Porch pulled down eight rebounds. 
 
IU Kokomo controlled the game from start-to-finish, leading for 39:36. The Grenadiers took an early 2-0 lead after converting a pair of free throws but a three from Harper gave the Cougars the lead. White and Porch would each score a bucket, putting IUK ahead 7-2 and forcing IU Southeast to take a timeout. 
 
Leading 16-9, the Cougars went on a 10-0 run that was capped off by a triple from Hunter Jackson. 
 
With 7:47 to go in the half, both offenses went cold. Neither team scored a basket in over four minutes. The Grenadiers broke the cold streak at the 3:29 mark, making it a 32-18 game. Porch scored the Cougars final five points of the half to put them in front by 19 but Glenn Hill Jr. knocked down a shot at the buzzer, sending the Cougars into the locker room with a 17-point advantage. 
 
The Cougars first 20-point lead of the game came just out of the break when Hampton stepped back and knocked down a triple on IUK's second possession of the second frame. 
 
IU Kokomo saw its largest lead with just over a minute left in the game after Harper converted a layup to put the Cougars up by 23. One more bucket from IU Southeast would make the final 69-48, IU Kokomo's 14th straight victory. 
 
The Cougars will conclude the regular season on Thursday as they travel to Saint Mary-of-the Woods to take on the Pomeroys. Tipoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.
 
The win secures the No. 1 overall seed for the Cougars in next week's River States Conference Tournament as well as the programs third NAIA National Tournament berth. 
 
For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.