Box Score

BALTIMORE, MD – Julian Sanders (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) had a team-high 17 points with Josh Weigand adding 16 as IUP fell to Division I Loyola of Maryland 83-71 in the Crimson Hawks final exhibition game before next Saturday's season opener at the brand new Kovalchick Complex.

Ashton Smith (Scarborough, ON/West Hill Collegiate) led IUP with 10 points at the break, as the Crimson Hawks fell behind 9-1 early but rallied to cut it to 26-22 with 5:40 left in the first. The Greyhounds then closed out the half on a 15-10 run, taking a 41-32 lead into halftime.

Loyola kept a steady lead throughout the second half, with IUP cutting its deficit to fewer than 10 points multiple times.

The Crimson Hawks kept it close late, with a three-pointer by Smith making it 77-69 with 2:04 remaining. Then Kevin Jones (Washington, DC/Bishop O'Connell) open layup cut their deficit to 77-71 with 1:20 remaining in the game. Unfortunately, the Greyhounds capitalized on IUP turnovers in the final minute, holding the Crimson Hawks scoreless in the final minute for the 83-71 win.

IUP played very well overall, forcing 19 turnovers and shooting 46.6 percent (27-58) from the field, including 43.8 percent (7-16) from three-point range. The Crimson Hawks did lose out at the foul line, making 10-of-15 shots compared to an impressive 23-of-27 for Loyola.

Smith and Sanders each finishing 5-of-10 from the field, with Weigand an efficient 7-of-12, adding five rebounds in 31 minutes of play.

The Crimson Hawks wrap up their preseason schedule and will tip-off the 2011-12 year with a “White-Out” on November 12 at 7:30 p.m. against Seton Hill at the Kovalchick Complex.