Box Score Saint Mary-of-the-Woods flashed its potential Saturday, jumping out to a 23-6 lead at IU East in the Pomeroys' River States Conference opener this season.
IU East weathered the storm to pull within 36-30 at halftime and the Red Wolves held off SMWC for a 76-65 victory.
Keith Germain had game-highs of 25 points and 15 rebounds for SMWC, which shot 50 percent from the field in the first half but saw that number fall to 32 percent in the second half.
Germain hit 3 for 5 from 3-point range, but the rest of the team combined to make 1 for 13.
SMWC got 20 points from its bench, led by Davin Miller's eight points. Miller had two monster dunks in the first half to help spark SMWC.
IU East connected on 55 percent of its second-half shots, hitting 5 of 6 from 3-point range. Jake Johnson made 4 of 5 from 3 in the second half.
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods returns to action Tuesday at home against Cincinnati-Clermont.