Box Score

INDIANA, PA – Ashton Smith (Scarborough, ON/West Hill Collegiate) became the Crimson Hawks all-time assists leader as the IUP men's basketball team fought off a late surge to defeat Cal 74-70 in the Quarterfinals of the 2012 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament Tuesday Night.

The Vulcans ripped off a 19-4 run late in the second half to pull within one with just 1:40 to play, but clutch free throw shooting from Julian Sanders (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) and Anthony Wells (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights) halted the Cal run and vaulted the Crimson Hawks into the PSAC Semifinals.

Needing just five assists to tie Mont Mattocks' (1966-70) IUP career mark of 450, Smith's moment would come early in the second half. He found Josh Wiegand (Whiteford, MD/John Carroll) for a wide open jumper to tie Mattocks just a minute into the period, and just moments later would spot Sanders in the corner for a three-pointer to set a new mark in IUP history.

Smith was not finished however, adding three more dimes late in the game to tie a career-high with nine assists. He was much more than just a facilitator however, adding 14 points, six rebounds and two steals as well.

The Crimson Hawks took control early in the first half when Wells deposited a quick five points to give IUP an 11-6 lead less than five minutes into the game, but the Vulcans would fight back. Travon Vann and Keith Lowe both sliced into the lane for layups to trim the lead to one, and Mitchell Weedon would give Cal a 12-11 lead with 13:12 to play.

The lead would be short-lived however, as a three-pointer from Sanders would jump start a 10-1 run over the next three minutes to give the Crimson Hawks a 21-13 lead with just over nine minutes to play in the half. Sanders would bookend the run with another three-pointer off a nice dish from Smith.

The Vulcans would cut into the lead late in the period when Jeremy Posey and Chad Tipton both connected from long range to pull Cal within four, but Wells would end the half on a high note for IUP with a dazzling touch pass to Danny Ayebo for an easy lay-in to give the Crimson Hawks a 35-29 lead at the break.

IUP came out on a mission early in the second half, starting the period on an 11-2 run to build a 15 point lead with just over 14 minutes to play in the game. The lead would reach as much as 18 when Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) drained a long three-ball and was fouled on the shot. Souberbielle converted on the free throw attempt for the four-point play.

With the Crimson Hawks in control late and the Vulcans' season on the ropes, Cal began to claw back. Four points from Tynell Fortune trimmed the lead to just 11, and three points from Lowe got the deficit to single digits with 3:03 to play.

Vann would pull the Vulcans to within four with just over two minutes to play when he drove past two defenders for a contested layup, and just moments later Chad Tipton would drill a three-pointer from the wing to slice the lead to just one with 1:40 to play.

Despite a stunned crowd at the Kovalchick Complex and all the momentum on the side of Cal, the Vulcans were unable to solve an issue that plagued them all evening. The game was ridden with fouls on both teams, and the Crimson Hawks took advantage.

Sanders was fouled while driving to the line, and calmly sank both freebies to extend the lead to three. Wells was equally as clutch, converting 4-of-6 free throws to help IUP to a 70-65 lead.

The Vulcans would have one more chance to steal the victory when Fortune connected from deep to cut the lead to just two with eight seconds remaining, but Sanders would hit two more free throws to end Cal's hopes of a title and send the Crimson Hawks to the PSAC Semifinals.

Sanders finished with a game-high 27 points on 5-of-9 shooting from three-point territory, while Souberbielle added 15 points and four steals. Wells filled up the stat line as usual for IUP, finishing with nine points, seven rebounds and three assists.

Vann, Tipton and Steve Swiech all finished with 12 points for Cal, with Swiech pulling down a game-high nine rebounds. Fortune added 11 points, three boards and three assists, while Jeremy Posey recorded eight points and five rebounds.

The Crimson Hawks will move on to the PSAC Semifinals this Friday at West Chester. The Golden Rams were the third seed in the PSAC East, but will host the semifinals after losses by both Bloomsburg and Kutztown. Tipoff with the Golden Rams is set for 7:30 p.m.