Box Score

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep) scored 21 points to go along with seven rebounds and six assists as ninth-ranked IUP defeated Lock Haven 71-53 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West men's basketball action on Wednesday night.

The Crimson Hawks ran their winning streak to eight games as they improved to 16-2 overall and continue to hold onto first place in the PSAC West with a 12-2 conference mark. Lock Haven falls to 5-12 on the year, 3-11 in conference play.

Keita had an efficient shooting night, going 7-of-11 from the field including 3-of-4 from three-point range. He also made 4-of-5 from the foul line. Keita added three steals in 28 minutes of action.

Scooter Renkin (Midlothian, VA/Blue Ridge) added 16 points, going 4-of-8 from three-point range while Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) had 13 points and eight rebounds.

The Crimson Hawks held a slim four-point lead midway through the first half before a 14-3 run, capped off by a triple by Renkin, gave IUP a 35-20 lead with 4:41 left in the half. The Bald Eagles would rally, however, scoring 10 of the next 11 points to go into halftime down 36-30.

Lock Haven climbed to within four points at 48-44 with 11:07 to go in the second but a three-pointer by Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) stopped the Bald Eagles rally and was the start of a 16-3 run for the Crimson Hawks as they took a 64-47 lead with just over six minutes to go. The closest the Bald Eagles would get is 13 points as IUP went on to the easy 18-point victory.

The Crimson Hawks shot 50 percent from the field, going 26-of-52, while making 10-of-13 from the foul line. They outrebounded Lock Haven 31-21 and forced the Bald Eagles into 18 turnovers. Leading scorer Wali Hepburn was limited to just 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting.

The Crimson Hawks are back in action on Saturday in a key matchup against rival Slippery Rock at the KCAC. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.