INDIANA, PA – IUP broke open a one-point game midway through the second half with a 15-4 run as the seventh-ranked Crimson Hawks pulled away with a 64-47 win over the College of Saint Rose in non-conference men's basketball action on Sunday evening.
 
The Crimson Hawks held a slim 41-40 lead after a Saint Rose bucket with 9:43 left in the game before scoring five straight points, including baskets by Jeremy Jeffers (Wilson, N.C./Greenfield School) and Devon Cottrell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Gateway), to go up by six.
 
Jeffers hit a three-pointer two possessions later and Shawn Dyer (Marion, Ohio/Marion Harding) converted one from the charity stripe after getting fouled on a made layup, to help IUP to a 56-44 lead with 4:36 to play. The Crimson Hawks would cruise the rest of the way to remain perfect on the season at 7-0, and wrap up a two-win IRMC/Urgicare Classic weekend at the Kovalchick Complex.
 
Three players scored in double-figures for the Crimson Hawks, led by Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) with 13. He also dished out eight assists and had two steals in 37 minutes of action. Dyer scored 12 points while Brandon Norfleet (Virginia Beach, Va. /Landstown) nearly notched a double-double with 11 points and nine assists.
 
Saint Rose (4-3) held the lead midway through the first half before a layup by Norfleet gave the Crimson Hawks a 12-11 lead at the 12:38 mark. That was the start of a 6-0 run for IUP before the Golden Knights came back to tie the game at 16-16 just a few minutes later.
 
Chance then hit a pair of three-pointers, and had a nice lob to Tevin Hanner (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill) for an alley-oop dunk, as the Crimson Hawks took a 29-24 lead into the break.
 
It remained close in the second half as the Crimson Hawks weren't able to separate early. Saint Rose went on top 33-32 with a layup-and-one, its final lead of the game, before IUP responded with back-to-back buckets get back in front. The Golden Knights later knocked down a three, which helped them narrow the gap to one point, before the Crimson Hawks went on their big run down the stretch.
 
IUP shot 45 percent from the floor and outrebounded Saint Rose 30-to-28. The Crimson Hawks also tallied 19 assists on their 24 made baskets.
 
The Crimson Hawks return to the court on Wednesday as they get back to conference play by hosting Mercyhurst. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.