Box Score

INDIANA, PA – Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) led the way for the Crimson Hawks, scoring 22 points in the team's 74-57 victory over Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East opponent Millersville.

The win was the eighth straight for IUP, who sits in sole possession of first place in the PSAC West with an 8-0, 3-0 record.

In addition to his 22 points, Souberbielle also added six rebounds and two assists, while only committing one personal foul.

Millersville got out to a quick 4-0 lead after just 40 seconds of play, but that would be their only breath of life in the game as the nation's seventh-ranked team showed its power.

Making his debut was the reigning PSAC East Freshman of the Year, Brandon Norfleet (Virginia Beach, Va. /Landstown), who got things going for the Crimson Hawks with back-to-back layups. Tied at four, IUP started to pull away led by a deep three from Jeremy Jeffers (Wilson, N.C./Greenfield School) and buckets from Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep), Souberbielle, Norfleet and Cornell Yarde II (Reading, Pa. /Schuylkill Valley).

The Crimson Hawks would go on a 19-0 run to jump out to a 15-point lead halfway through the first half. Tyree Smith got Millersville's first two points in nearly nine minutes of play, sinking two free throws following a foul from Jeffers.

It was a low scoring first half, as the Crimson Hawks headed into the break with 31-22 lead.

Complimented by a hot offense, IUP's defense was stellar, allowing the Marauders to get within seven or fewer points just once in the second half. Souberbielle and Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) were both in double figures in the second, recording 14 and 10 points, respectively. The defense also capitalized on ten Millersville turnovers, led by Chance's four second half steals.

With just over eight minutes to play, and the Marauders within nine, the Crimson Hawks again began to pull away. Chance converted on one of two free throws and Souberbielle hit two straight layups to give the Crimson Hawks the 12 point lead. It was all IUP from there out, as they would go on to claim the 17 point victory.

Four Crimson Hawks finished the game in double figures. Souberbielle recorded 22 points, six rebounds and two assists, Keita finished with 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals, Norfleet added 12 points, three rebounds, four assists and a steal and Chance recorded his first double-double of the season, registering 10 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and five steals.

IUP shot 49.1 percent from the field in the game, compared to just 28.3 percent from Millersville. However, they struggled from behind the arc, converting on just one of seven attempts and not connecting on a three-point shot for nearly 36 minutes of play.

The conference's No. 1 scoring defense remained strong, again holding their opponent to under 60 points in their fifth straight contest. They've only allowed an opponent to score more than 70 points once, when they defeated Notre Dame (Ohio) 87-70.  

While the PSAC crossover games do not count for conference action, the Crimson Hawks have the best record in the West, as the only undefeated team remaining. Mercyhurst is the only other school to remain unbeaten in conference play, but has dropped four non-conference games. In the East, No. 12 East Stroudsburg leads the way with a 9-0, 4-0 record. Bloomsburg is also perfect in PSAC play at 6-2, 4-0. 

IUP will continue crossover play, hosting Shippensburg tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. at the Kovalchick Complex. The game will mark the return of former assistant coach Chris Fite, who took the head coaching job with the Raiders in June.

Shippensburg comes in with only one victory on the season, and riding a two game losing streak. They're averaging a conference-low 62.4 points per game, while allowing opponents to score 74.4.