Box Score

INDIANA, PA - Just one day after dropping their first game of the 2011-12 season, The IUP men's basketball team responded nicely with a 76-51 win over Mansfield in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) crossover action Sunday afternoon. Julian Sanders (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) led the way with 21 points on 4-5 shooting from three-point range, while Ashton Smith (Scarborough, ON/West Hill Collegiate) chipped in 16 points and five assists.

The Crimson Hawks (5-1, 3-1 in the PSAC) were in control from the opening tip Sunday, racing out to an 11-3 lead in the first five minutes of the game. Josh Wiegand (Whiteford, MD/John Carroll) poured in a quick six points on three layups, while Sanders and Anthony Wells (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights) both nailed three's on consecutive trips down the floor.

The Mountaineers would put together a run over the next three minutes to slice into the IUP lead, but the Crimson Hawks would keep Mansfield at arm's length thanks to a jumper from Smith and another Sanders three-pointer. The IUP lead would be extended 15 late in the first half when Sanders deposited another trey with just over two minutes to play in the period.

After Chukwuka Ikpeze answered with a bucket for Mansfield, it was Smith who capped off an excellent first half with a layup to give the Crimson Hawks a 40-27 lead at the break. Sanders scored 17 points in the first half, while Wells dished out five assists.

IUP would not let up in the second half, extending its lead on a trey by smith and a pair of back-to-back layups from Wiegand. The Crimson Hawks lead would reach 20 with 6:31 to play in the game when Sanders connected on yet another three, and Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) would extend the lead to as much as 28 when he slipped into the lane for a crafty layup with under two minutes to play.

The Mountaineers continued the fight with baskets from Charles Becoats and Zach Mager, but Ethan Robinson (Gales Ferry, CT/Ledyard) would salt away the win for IUP with pair of layups as time wound down.

Sanders was 7-of-12 from the field for his 21 points, while Smith was 6-of-14 from the floor. Wells finished with five points and a game-high seven assists, while Danny Ayebo pulled down a team-high eight rebounds. Wiegand was particularly effective for IUP, going 6-of-8 from the field for 12 points.

The IUP defense stifled the Mansfield shooters all afternoon, as only Joe Bell was able to score in double-figures for the Mountaineers, finishing with 11 points and five rebounds. Josh Dupuy finished with eight points and three assists, while Ikpeze added nine points in just 13 minutes of action.

The Crimson Hawks continue PSAC crossover play next weekend when they travel to East Stroudsburg and Kutztown. IUP takes on the Warriors at 7:30 on Friday night before tipping off against Kutztown at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.