Box Score

INDIANA, PA – Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) scored a career-high 26 points to lead the IUP men's basketball team to a 76-62 victory over Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference West foe Pitt-Johnstown.

Three players were in double digits for the Crimson Hawks, with Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep) scoring 24 and Devon Cottrell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Gateway) adding ten.

The game was Keita's third-straight with at least 20 points. Cottrell also added 12 rebounds to complete the double-double.

Pitt-Johnstown kept it close to start things off, taking the lead twice early on. Souberbielle's first of six straight three-pointers would give the Crimson Hawks the one-point advantage and tuned the tide in favor of IUP.

The Crimson Hawks would go on an 11-0 run to take the nine point advantage with under ten minutes remaining in the half. The Mountain Cats battled hard, cutting the deficit to just five after a three-pointer from Paul Weatherly.

IUP responded, with buckets from Keita, Cornell Yarde II (Reading, Pa. /Schuylkill Valley), Souberbielle and Jeremy Jeffers (Wilson, N.C./Greenfield School) to go on a 12-5 run to close out the half with a 12-point advantage.

Souberbielle picked up right where he left off, draining a three-pointer in the early seconds of the second half, giving IUP the 15-point advantage and leading the team to a dominant finish.

Strong defense and explosive offense kept the Mountain Cats at a comfortable distance, never letting them get closer than 10 points

With just over five minutes remaining, AJ Leahey hit a jumper to pull within ten, giving Pitt-Johnstown hope. But, IUP turned on the scoring, adding 15 points to close out the game and claim the victory.

Playing in 39 minutes, Souberbielle finished with 26 points, six rebounds, one assist and two steals. Keita, who registered 35 minutes, closed out the game with 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Cottrell's 10 points and career-high 12 rebounds give him his first double-double of his career. He also added four blocks and two steals.

Jeffers tallied six points, five rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes and Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) added five points, four assists and three rebounds in 31 minutes of play.

With the win, the Crimson Hawks improve to 3-0, 1-0 on the season, joining Edinboro and Gannon as the only remaining undefeated teams in the PSAC West.

IUP will travel to Clarion for their first PSAC road game of the season, taking on the 1-1, 0-1 Golden Eagles. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. IUP will return home for the Indiana Regional Medical Center Classic, playing host to Shaw Nov. 30 at 3 p.m. and the University of the Sciences Dec. 1 at 3 p.m. at the Kovalchick Complex.