Box Score

INDIANA, PA - Scooter Renkin (Midlothian, VA/Blue Ridge) scored a game-high 15 points including the Crimson Hawks' final four in crunch time as the ninth-ranked IUP men's basketball team hung on for a 57-54 win over Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West rival Mercyhurst Saturday night.

For the fourth time in their last five games the Crimson Hawks saw their double-digit second half lead nearly evaporate due a stellar effort from an opposing player. It was Terrence Ingram's turn Saturday, as the guard poured in 12 second period points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field.

IUP sported a 45-27 lead with 11:30 to play in the game before the Lakers began to chip away, ripping off a 12-2 run that spanned just over two minutes to slice the deficit to just 10 with under nine minutes to play. Mercyhurst would pull to within one 1:43 remaining when Paul Bilbo muscled in a layup, but Renkin would answer.

The senior sliced into the paint for a layup with just 41 seconds to play to give IUP a 55-52 lead, and after a quick layup from Luis Leao trimmed the lead to one once again, Renkin calmly deposited a pair of free throws to salt away the win for the Crimson Hawks.

Renkin posted nine second half points en route to his 15, while Anthony Wells (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights) finished with 12 points and three steals. Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) chipped in nine points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor, and Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) added five points.

The Crimson Hawks shot just 45.0% from the field as a team, but forced 19 Mercyhurst turnovers and limited the Lakers to 48.6% shooting from the floor. IUP's perimeter defense was solid once again, as Mercyhurst shot just 26.7% from behind the arc.

Leao was the high-man for the Lakers with 19 points, three rebounds and a pair of assists, while Ingram finished with 14 points and four boards. Bilbo added 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting, and Callon Dailey tallied five rebounds and four helpers.

The Lakers kept within punching distance for much of the first half, but a triple from Chance and a Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep) layup would give the Crimson Hawks a 30-21 lead at the break. Chance and the Crimson Hawks bench would outscore the Mercyhurst reserves 13-5 in the first period.

IUP looks to make it eight consecutive victories this Wednesday when the Crimson Hawks travel to Lock Haven. Tipoff with the Bald Eagles is set for 7:30 p.m.