INDIANA, Pa. – Senior guard Brandon Norfleet (Virginia Beach, Va. /Landstown) netted a career-high 26 points to lead the IUP men's basketball team to a 77-60 victory over visiting American International on Saturday night at the Kovalchick Complex.
 
Norfleet was an efficient 10-of-17 from the field and 6-of-6 from the foul line in 34 minutes of action as the Crimson Hawks improved to 4-3 overall on the year. He also six rebounds, dished out six assists, and had two steals.
 
The game was the final one of the weekend as IUP hosted its annual Indiana Regional Medical Center (IRMC) Classic.
 
Norfleet led three Crimson Hawks in double figures, as senior forward Daddy Ugbede (Gardena, Calif./Serra) scored 18 points in 20 minutes and freshman guard Dante Lombardi (Indiana, Pa./The Kiski School) added 12. Ugbede went 7-of-8 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line and grabbed three rebounds as he started for the injured Devon Cottrell (Pittsburgh, Pa. /Gateway).
 
Lombardi connected on 5-of-11 from the field and dished out six assists while grabbing four rebounds and getting two steals in 30 minutes.
 
The Crimson Hawks shot 56 percent (28-of-50) from the field and went 18-of-20 from the foul line, outrebounding AIC 34-to-29 while forcing 19 turnovers.
 
American International led 25-19 before the Crimson Hawks exploded on a 16-3 run to take a 35-28 lead with 2:28 left in the first half. IUP extended its lead to eight points at 40-32 heading to halftime.
 
The IUP lead went to 12 at 44-32 early in the second half before stretching to 20 at 67-47 with 6:19 to go after a 13-1 run. The Crimson Hawks led by as many as 24 before ultimately finishing with the 17-point victory.
 
Freshman forward Jacobo Diaz (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain/CBA Gran Canaria) tied a season-high with 11 rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench, going 6-of-6 from the foul line. Senior forward Tevin Hanner (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill) set a career-high with five blocks, adding five points and three rebounds.
 
IUP has three games coming up next week, starting with a road game at Gannon on Tuesday. The Crimson Hawks will also travel to Shippensburg and Kutztown next weekend.
 
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP Men's Basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPMens_Bball.