Box Score

EDINBORO, PA - Dan Ayebo (Indiana/Indiana) scored 13 points including eight in overtime as the ninth-ranked IUP men's basketball team held off a furious Fighting Scots comeback to defeat Edinboro 86-75 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action Wednesday evening.

Trailing by 11 at halftime, The Fighting Scots pulled off a mighty rally that was capped by a Jay Fletcher three-pointer with just eight seconds remaining to knot it at 73-73 and force overtime.  Fletcher put on a phenominal performance for the home crowd, dropping a game-high 30 points including 25 in the second frame.

Despite watching their lead evaporate in the second half, the Crimson Hawks regained their poise and dominated the extra session, outscoring Edinboro 13-2 to rebuild their double-digit advantage. The Fighting Scots had no answer for Ayebo, as the senior poured in eight overtime-points including six from the free-throw line.

Ayebo finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, and was a sparkling 7-of-8 from the charity stripe. Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep) finished with a team-high 21 points and nine rebounds, while Anthony Wells (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights) added 16 points, six boards and five assists.

The Crimson Hawks held Edinboro to just 27 points in the first half, but the conference's highest-scoring offense tallied 46 second-half points to storm back. The Fighting Scots shot 45% from the floor as a team, but went 0-of-7 from the field in overtime.

IUP committed just 11 turnovers on the evening and dominated the glass, outrebounding Edinboro 45-32. Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) posted another solid performance off the bench for the Crimson Hawks, dishing eight of the team's 19 assists.

The Crimson Hawks led by as much as 18 with under 15 minutes to play in the second half, but Edinboro would be kept at arm's length until the final two minutes of regulation, when a triple and a pair of free throws from Will Marrow II sliced the lead to just three.

Fletcher drained seven three's in the second half alone en route to his 30 points, while Isaiah Prince chipped in 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. Marrow added seven points and six boards, while Jamal Bailey finished with seven points on 3-of-3 shooting from the floor.

The Crimson Hawks return home this Saturday to host Mercyhurst. Tipoff with the Lakers is set for 7:30 p.m.