JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – For the seventh time in nine seasons, IUP has clinched a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division men's basketball title, as the Crimson Hawks defeated Pitt-Johnstown 84-63 win on Wednesday night.
 
The fourth-ranked Crimson Hawks improved to 22-2 overall on the year, with a PSAC-best 17-1 conference record.
 
IUP has now wrapped up home court advantage throughout the PSAC tournament. As the top seed, the Crimson Hawks will receive a first round bye, and with a win in the quarterfinals, would host the conference semifinals and championship game at the Kovalchick Complex the first weekend in March.
 
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The Crimson Hawks' last PSAC title came in 2013, a game that was played at the Kovalchick Complex.
 
The game
The Crimson Hawks hit a season-best 16 three-pointers, with seven players chipping in from beyond the arc. Junior guard Ayron Hutton (Virginia Beach, Va./Cape Henry) led the way with four treys, finishing with a season-high 14 points in just 17 minutes.
 
Four more Crimson Hawks scored in double-figures, with sophomore forward Jacobo Diaz (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain/CBA Gran Canaria) going for 12 points, while guards Anthony Glover (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit), Dante Lombardi (Indiana, Pa./The Kiski School), and Malik Miller (Farrell, Pa./Farrell) each tallied 11.
 
Diaz nearly picked up his 10th double-double of the year, adding nine rebounds and five assists. Lombardi also had five assists, as IUP dished out 22 on 30 made buckets.
 
Diaz also did damage defensively, shutting down UPJ's player of the year candidate AJ Leahey, who finished with just 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting.
 
Win streak extended
The win also extended IUP's win streak to 13, a run that started with a home victory over Gannon back on December 30.
 
Up next
The Crimson Hawks go for 14 straight wins this Saturday as they head to Edinboro to battle the Fighting Scots (6-15, 4-13 PSAC). Tipoff is 3 p.m.
 
Follow
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP Men's Basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPMens_Bball.