Box Score

INDIANA, PA – IUP scored 51 second half points on nearly 70 percent shooting, erasing a 15-point halftime deficit en route to a 75-72 victory over Bowie State in regional men's basketball action on Wednesday night at the Kovalchick Complex.

The Crimson Hawks (2-0) outscored Bowie State 51-33 in second stanza, forcing the Bulldogs into 11 turnovers and a 35.5 shooting percentage.

Three different IUP players scored in double-figures during the comeback, with Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep) netting 17 points, Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) 13 and Blake Vedder (Chesterland, OH/West Geauga) 12.

The rally started right after the break as IUP opened with the half's first five points, including a breakaway dunk by Keita that helped ignite the crowd. After a pair of free throws by Bowie State's Najee White, the Crimson Hawks used a three-pointer by Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) to start an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to 41-37 less than four minutes into the second half.

The Bulldogs (0-3) would get their lead back to nine just a few moments later, but again the Crimson Hawks battled back, going on a 9-0 run that would tie the score at 50-50. The run started with a layup by Vedder followed by a trio of free throws by Chance. Vedder then tied the score with 11:23 left on back-to-back dunks on nice looks from Keita.

IUP built a four-point lead two minutes later but the Bulldogs came back to tie the score at 56-56 and then later took a 62-61 lead on a three by leading scorer Byron Westmorland. Bowie State then went ahead by four at 67-63 by an open layup by Vedder followed by a pair of free throws by Keita once again tied the score with 2:18 left in the contest.

The Crimson Hawks scored six points over the next minute to take a 73-67 lead but three Bowie State free throws followed by another dunk by White brought the Bulldogs back to within one at 73-72 with 4.3 seconds remaining.

With a chance at the tie, Ray Gatling's free throw fell off the side of the rim and Keita would connect both free throws with 2.3 seconds on the clock to give IUP a three-point lead. With one final heave, Westmorland's three-quarter court shot fell short as the Crimson Hawks completed the thrilling come-from-behind victory.

Westmorland scored a game-high 22 points, but was limited to just 2-of-7 from the field and six points in the second half as the IUP defense shut him down. White added 20 points and nine rebounds for the Bulldogs while Scott had 11 points, going 3-of-5 from three.

Keita finished with a team-high 22 points on 5-of-10 shooting, making 11-of-13 at the foul line. He added nine assists in 39 minutes on the floor.

Souberbielle finished with 19 points and six boards, going 7-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-4 at the line. He also tallied four steals in 35 minutes.

Chance and Vedder both added 12 points to give the Crimson Hawks four double-digit scorers. Chance had a career-high eight rebounds from his guard position to go along with four assists while Vedder went 6-of-6 from the field with three blocks.

IUP out-rebounded the Bulldogs 34-31 and got 24 bench points compared to Bowie State's nine. The Crimson Hawks finished 26-of-52 from the floor and 20-of-25 from the foul line.

The Crimson Hawks are off for 10 days until they host the Indiana Regional Medical Center Classic on November 24 and 25, the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving.