Box Score

INDIANA, PA - Three Crimson Hawks scored in double-figures as the 16th-ranked IUP men's basketball team rolled to an 82-44 win over Lock Haven in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action Wednesday night. The Crimson Hawks are now 14-3, 11-2 in the PSAC West, while the Bald Eagles fall to 0-16, 0-13 in the conference.

IUP set the tone from the opening tip Wednesday, racing out to a 16-4 lead in the first seven minutes of the game. Julian Sanders (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) drained three three-pointers and Ashton Smith (Scarborough, ON/West Hill Collegiate) chipped in a pair of layups during the run. Terrell Johnson would knock down a three to halt the IUP run, but the Crimson Hawks would not be deterred.

They responded with an 18-3 run that spanned over eight minutes and saw different IUP players get into the getting column. The run was capped off by back-to-back layups from IUP's big men off the bench, Danny Ayebo and Kevin Jones (Washington, DC/Bishop O'Connell).

Andre Rivers would cut into the lead with a three-pointer and a pair of free throws over a minute to play in the first half, but Anthony Wells (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights) would end a dominant first half for the Crimson Hawks with a three-ball from the corner with just :07 to play in the period. Wells had 11 points and three rebounds in the first half, while Smith added 12 points, three boards and two assists.

The Crimson Hawks extended their lead in the second half thanks to eight points on 2-of-3 shooting from three-point territory for Sanders, and five points from Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School). Terrell Rickard (Waynesboro/Waynesboro) came off the bench in the game's closing minutes and punctuated an outstanding all-around effort by IUP with a thunderous dunk off of a nice dish from Wells.

Sanders led the way for the Crimson Hawks with 17 points and four rebounds, while Smith finished with 14 points, five boards and four assists. Wells chipped in 13 points, five rebounds, five dimes and a game-high three steals, and Ayebo tallied eight points and three rebounds.

Rivers was the leading scorer for Lock Haven with 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field, while Johnson chipped in 12 points. Julian Bond finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists.

The Crimson Hawks head to Slippery Rock this Saturday looking to maintain their lead in the PSAC West. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m.