Box Score

INDIANA, PA – A three-point shot at the buzzer by Anthony Wells (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights) would bounce off the rim as seventh-ranked IUP dropped a tight 57-55 decision to Gannon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) men's basketball action on Wednesday night at the KCAC.

With the loss the Crimson Hawks end their nine-game winning streak and fall to 17-3 overall, 13-3 in the PSAC. Gannon improves to 18-4, 12-4 in the conference.

The loss was the first for the Crimson Hawks at home this season, who are now 11-1 in the KCAC.

The missed shot came as Wells sprinted down the floor after inbounding the ball with 4.9 seconds remaining. He would lift off from just beyond the three-point arc at the top of the circle but the ball bounced off the back of the rim.

Gannon's Adam Blazek missed the second of two foul shots with seven seconds remaining to give IUP the ball back down by two. Prior to him heading to the line, Mathis Keita (Thionville, France/Insep) knocked down three-pointer with 15 seconds on the clock to cut the Golden Knights lead to 56-55. Blazek then got the inbound pass and was able to elude IUP defenders for several seconds before the foul came.

Down 30-24 at the half, the Crimson Hawks exploded for a 15-0 run midway through the second stanza to take a 45-38 lead with 11:23 left on the clock. The Golden Knights chipped away at that lead, however, and with 5:46 remaining took a 50-48 lead on a three-pointer by Oscar Macias.

With Gannon holding a four-point lead with under a minute remaining, Wells drew a foul and drained a pair of foul shots to make it a 54-52 game with 48 seconds left on the clock. A layup on the other end by Blazek made it a four-point game again, setting up the game's final 15 seconds.

Blazek scored 11 points for the Golden Knights off the bench, added nine rebounds and six assists.

Keita led the Crimson Hawks with 16 points, adding eight rebounds. Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) had 11 points while Scooter Renkin (Midlothian, VA/Blue Ridge) finished with seven points and seven rebounds.

The Crimson Hawks will look to start a new streak this weekend as they travel to Clarion to face the Golden Eagles on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.