Box Score

WEST CHESTER, PA – In a game that showcased excellent defense, the night's defining play came on the offensive end, when Jon Breedon's three-pointer with under two seconds to play vaulted West Chester to a 54-51 win over IUP in the Semifinals of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament Friday night.

The loss eliminates the Crimson Hawks (23-5) from PSAC title contention, but IUP will hope to continue their season at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament on Friday, March 9.

The Crimson Hawks held a 43-31 lead with 8:27 to play in the second half, but West Chester would charge back with a 20-8 run to tie the game at 51-51 with just 47 seconds remaining. After an IUP miss returned possession to the Golden Rams, the ball was put in Breedon's hands for a final shot. Breedon sank the three with 1.4 seconds remaining, and IUP was unable to get off a shot at the other end.

The 54-51 was the lowest-scoring PSAC Tournament game since Edinboro defeated Shippensburg 52-51 in the PSAC Championship at Hollinger Field House in 2006. IUP shot just 34.0% from the field, while West Chester shot 37.3%.

It was a sloppy start to the game as neither team was able to settle into an offense. The Crimson Hawks would hit their stride midway through the half, however, as Josh Wiegand (Whiteford, MD/John Carroll) would knock down a midrange jumper and Anthony Wells (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights) would drill a triple to give IUP an 11-8 lead with just over 12 to play.

The Golden Rams would fight back over the next eight minutes to tie the game at 18-18, but the game would not stay tied for long.

The Crimson Hawks ripped off a 9-0 run over the final four minutes of the first half to take a 26-18 lead at the break. Ashton Smith (Scarborough, ON/West Hill Collegiate) had four points in the run and Julian Sanders (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) capped the streak with a conventional three-point play late in the period.

IUP maintained control early in the second half when Smith deposited back-to-back deuces and Ethan Robinson (Gales Ferry, CT/Ledyard) scored two off of a nice dish from Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter). The Crimson Hawks would extend their lead to 41-28 midway through the half when Danny Ayebo found a wide open Sanders for a triple, but Lance McDowell would answer at the other end with a layup.

The Crimson Hawks looked poised to advance to their third-consecutive PSAC Championship with just over eight minutes to play when Smith knocked down a pair of free throws to give IUP a 43-31 lead, but the Golden Rams would claw their way back and eventually set up the game-winner by Breedon.

Smith finished with 16 points, four rebounds and five steals, while Sanders notched his first double-double of the season, tallying 16 points and 10 boards. Wells added nine points and four rebounds, while Wiegand finished with six points and five boards.

Carl Johnson led the way for West Chester with 14 points, four rebounds and two steals, while Lance McDowell finished with 10 points, six boards and two blocks. Breedon was 2-of-4 from three-point land for nine points.

The NCAA tournament brackets will be announced on Sunday night, March 4. The Crimson Hawks entered this week in sixth place in the Atlantic Region and were the top-ranked PSAC team. The top eight teams in each region make the NCAA tournament, with conference championship receiving automatic bids.