Box Score | Post Game Press Conference

WEST LIBERTY, WV – Anthony Wells (Cleveland, OH/Shaker Heights) scored 22 points to lead four scorers in double-figures as third-seeded IUP defeated sixth-seed East Stroudsburg 76-68 in the opening round of the 2013 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Atlantic Region Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

The Crimson Hawks came back from a 34-30 halftime deficit to shoot 64 percent from the floor in the second half, converting 16-of-25 shots, including 4-of-7 from three-point range.

Each of Wells' made field goals came from three-point range as he finished 6-of-11 from the floor, 6-of-8 from beyond the arc. His six threes were just one shy of tying an IUP single game NCAA tournament record, set by Wes Layton against Northwest Missouri State in 2002. He also went 4-of-6 from the foul line.

Marcel Souberbielle (Montevideo, Uruguay/Uruguayan American School) added 16 points and eight rebounds, going 5-of-9 from the field and 6-of-6 from the foul line. He also had three assists and two steals.

Scooter Renkin (Midlothian, VA/Blue Ridge) came off the bench to score 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting while Josh Wiegand (Whiteford, MD/John Carroll) had 12 points in 21 minutes.

ESU controlled the game in the outset as Whis Grant and Terrance King teamed to give the Warriors a 10-3 lead less than three minutes in. The Crimson Hawks trailed 17-7 less than four minutes later when a three-pointer by Wells jumpstarted a 17-5 run that put IUP on top 24-22 with 6:34 to play in the half. Wells went on to hit another three during the run while Souberbielle added eight.

The Warriors stopped the IUP run and went back on top 32-27 before heading into the locker room with the four point lead.

The Crimson Hawks better shooting in the second stanza started right away as they tore off a 9-2 run to take a 39-36 lead after just 2:22. Matt Tobin gave ESU took a 50-48 lead at the 11:40 mark as each team was struggling for momentum midway through the second half. A layup by Wiegand knotted the game at 54-apiece before another three-pointer by Wells gave IUP a 57-54 lead with 9:33 to go.

With IUP clinging to a one-point lead less than two minutes later, Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) drilled a three from the corner, jumpstarting a 7-1 run as the Crimson Hawks built a 64-57 lead with 4:57 to go. ESU got its deficit back to three minutes later but Wiegand and Renkin scored the Crimson Hawks next five points as they took a 69-61 lead with 2:30 to go, as Grant fouled out of the game in the process.

Both teams traded foul shots and a three-pointer by ESU's Duane Johnson cut the IUP lead to 72-68 with 41 seconds to go. But the Crimson Hawks would make 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch as they turned away the Warriors only two looks at the basket to sew up the nine-point win.

Grant finished with a game-high 26 points, going 10-of-13 from the field, including 3-of-5 from three-point range in just 28 minutes. King added 11 points for the Warriors, who shot 48 percent (24-of-50) from the floor and 67 percent (16-of-24) from the foul line.

The Crimson Hawks held the rebounding edge 31-to-27 and came up with seven steals and four blocked shots.

IUP moves onto the semifinals to play the winner of Winston-Salem State and Slippery Rock, a game scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today. Winston-Salem is the second seed in the region while The Rock is the seven seed.