Box Score

SLIPPERY ROCK, PA – Danny Ayebo's tip-in with just three seconds left in the game sealed a dramatic 63-62 win over Slippery Rock in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action Saturday. Ayebo had just four points in the game, but his opportunistic play would be the signature moment in a gutsy performance by the 16th-ranked Crimson Hawks.

The Rock seemingly had the game in hand late with a one-point lead and possession of the ball with just 10 seconds remaining, but an errant in-bound pass was stolen by Julian Sanders (Medford, NJ/Shawnee), who was able to get a good look at a game-winning jumper. Sanders' shot rimmed out, but Ayebo was right there to tip in the rebound and give IUP a one-point lead with three seconds to play. Slippery Rock's final chance was interrupted by Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School), whose steal secured the victory for the Crimson Hawks.

The game was a back-and-forth affair all afternoon, with neither team able to build a significant lead until midway through the first half. Ashton Smith (Scarborough, ON/West Hill Collegiate) converted four free throws to give the Crimson Hawks a 15-7 lead with 12:22 to play in the half, and Sanders would extend the lead with a pair free throws of his own.

Slippery Rock would respond with three's by Aubin Reeves and John Bayardelle, but Sanders, Souberbielle and Smith would continue an excellent shooting performance at the line by knocking down a pair of freebies each.

Tabari Perry and Jon Valeriano would both connect from three-point range to pull The Rock to within one with 2:19 to play, but a late jumper by Sanders would give IUP a 29-26 lead late. The Crimson Hawks looked to take momentum into the break, but a thunderous dunk by Devin Taylor would cut the lead to one at the half.

IUP extended its lead to as much as nine in the second half thanks to seven points from Smith and six points from Sanders, but Slippery Rock would slowly chip away at the lead. Torrance Timothy drained a three-pointer to trim the lead to six, and five consecutive points by Reeves nearly erased the deficit completely.

The Crimson Hawks would build their lead back to four with 2:50 to play when Smith deposited two free throws, but a three by Chaquille Pratt once again brought The Rock to within one with 1:00 to play in the game.

Slippery Rock finally broke through with 0:22 to play when Reeves nailed two freebies to give The Rock a 62-61 lead. Ayebo would give the ball back to Slippery Rock when he was called for an offensive foul with 0:10 left, but he would make up for the turnover with his decisive bucket just seven seconds later.

Smith led the way for IUP with 24 points, four rebounds and three assists, while Sanders had 19 points and five boards. Josh Wiegand (Whiteford, MD/John Carroll) chipped in eight points and nine rebounds, and Souberbielle added six points, four rebounds and a game-high four steals.

Taylor finished with 16 points and 10 boards for Slippery Rock, while Reeves added 13 points. Perry added 11 points, six rebounds and two assists.

With the win, IUP improves to 15-3, 12-2 in the PSAC West, while Slippery Rock falls to 12-6, 9-5 in the Western Division. The Crimson Hawks return to action this Wednesday when they face Gannon. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m.