Box Score

INDIANA, PA - Julian Sanders (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) became the IUP all-time leader in career three-pointers made when he led the 14th-ranked Crimson Hawks to a 70-65 come-from-behind win over Clarion in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action Saturday night. Sanders needed just two three's to pass Jason Bullock for first place on the career three-pointers list and splashed in four, his last one helping to seal the victory for the Crimson Hawks late in the game.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to an early lead in the first half on a pair of jumpers by Mike Kroma, but the Crimson Hawks would respond. Josh Wiegand (Whiteford, MD/John Carroll) converted a pair of layups and Sanders nailed his first trey of the game to slice into the lead, but three's by Winfield Willis and Calvin Edwards would give Clarion a 19-11 lead midway through the first half.

IUP answered with a layup by Ethan Robinson (Gales Ferry, CT/Ledyard) and another three from Sanders, but the Golden Eagles would keep the Crimson Hawks at arm's length thanks to buckets from Willis and Paul McQueen. a jumper by Willis would extend the Clarion lead to seven with 2:41 to play in the half, but IUP would finish the have strong.

Danny Ayebo converted a conventional three-point play to cut the lead to four, and would march back to the line for two more freebies after drawing a foul with under a minute to play. Quintus "Bud" Teer bumped the Clarion lead back to four with a pair of free throws on the next trip down the floor, but Sanders pulled the Crimson Hawks to within one when he nailed his third three of the half as time expired in the period.

Clarion would regain control early in the second half when a quick seven points from Willis gave the Golden Eagles a 42-35 lead, but Sanders and Ashton Smith (Scarborough, ON/West Hill Collegiate) would keep IUP in the game with back-to-back buckets.

The Golden Eagles continued to successfully fend off any serious IUP runs for most of the second half, but the Crimson Hawks would finally break through with 7:47 to play in the game when Anthony Wells (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights) nailed a three-pointer to give IUP its first lead since it was 2-0 in favor of the Crimson Hawks.

With time dwindling away and neither team able to nudge in front by a significant amount, it was a three by Sanders that gave IUP a 64-61 lead with 1:59 to play in the second half. Sanders had been quiet from three-point territory in the second half, but displayed the touch that allowed him to make more three's than any player in IUP history  when his team desperately needed it.

Leonard Patterson would continue the fight for Clarion with a layup with under a minute to play, but a pair of free throws from Sanders would salt away the win for the Crimson Hawks.

Sanders finished with a game-high 23 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field, while Smith chipped in 16 points. Wells added eight points, eight rebounds and five assists for IUP.

Willis led the way for Clarion with 17 points and three assists, while Calvin Edwards had 15 points. Teer added 12 points a five boards, and McQueen tallied 11 points and 11 rebounds.

The Crimson Hawks return home this Wednesday when they host PSAC West foe Edinboro at 7:30 p.m.