KOKOMO, Ind. - The IU Kokomo men's basketball team improved to 6-4 on the season with a dominant 97-69 rout of East-West University Friday evening inside the Student Activities and Events Center.

7th year head coach Eric Echelbarger's squad scored the first 13 points and 24 of the first 29 points to hold a commanding 19-point lead less than seven minutes into the game.

The Cougar lead grew to as many as 28 in the opening 20 minutes behind double-digit scoring from Noah Harris, Evan Kretz, and Max Newman, as IUK had the Phantoms of East-West doubled up 52-26 at the half.

IU Kokomo maintained control of the game throughout the second half, with the Cougar lead never dropping below 22 points. Seven different Cougars scored in the final 20 minutes as they cruised to a 97-69 home win over East-West.

Four Cougars scored in double-figures in Friday night's win, led by Evan Kretz with a team-high 20 points. Max Newman scored 19 points and pulled down a team-high 13 rebounds, while Noah Harris added 15 points on 6-10 shooting from the field. 

Joseph Annan Jr. recorded 12 points and nine rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench, as Drake Moore and Chris Glover each had nine.

The Cougars will be back in action at home next Wednesday, as they will host IU Northwest at 7:00 PM.

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.