CLARION, PA – The 25th-ranked Crimson Hawks used an 18-6 run to start the second half to erase a halftime deficit, pushing them past Clarion 87-72 in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) men's basketball action on Saturday night.
Six different players reached double-figures in scoring for IUP – a season-best – as the Crimson Hawks scored 53 points in the second half alone.
Shawn Dyer (Marion, Ohio/Marion Harding) had a team-high 20 points for IUP, going 7-of-11 from the floor, including 3-of-5 from three-point range.
The Crimson Hawks improve to 17-3 overall and 11-3 in the PSAC, jumping into a three-way tie with Gannon and Mercyhurst for the top spot in the Western Division. Clarion falls to 6-11 and 4-10.
IUP shot a blistering 57.7 percent from the floor, including 17-of-26 during the second half comeback. Down 35-34 to begin the final stanza, the Crimson Hawks scored 18 of the next 24 points to turn the game around and take an 11-point lead.
Clarion did cut its deficit to six points at 65-59 with just over eight minutes remaining, but six quick points by Dyer and
Daddy Ugbede (San Mateo, Calif./Serra) gave the Crimson Hawks a 12-point lead as they eventually finished off the Golden Eagles for the 15-point victory.
Ugbede was one of the six IUP players in double-figures with 10 points in 22 minutes.
Jeremy Jeffers (Wilson, N.C./Greenfield School) also scored 10 points, adding four assists in a career-high 35 minutes.
Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) played the entire 40 minutes, getting 16 points with five rebounds and four assists.
Also scoring in double-figures was
Brandon Norfleet (Virginia Beach, Va. /Landstown), who went for 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting in 33 minutes.
Tevin Hanner (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill) came off the bench to finish with 11 points and four rebounds in 20 minutes. It was his fourth double-figure scoring effort in the last six games.
Clarion was led by BJ Andrews, who scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds in 33 minutes before fouling out.
The Crimson Hawks are off for a week before starting a three-game home stand on Saturday against Seton Hill. Tipoff against the Griffins is set for 7:30 p.m.
