INDIANA, PA – Shawn Dyer (Marion, Ohio/Marion Harding) nearly missed a double-double with 22 points and nine rebounds to help the 18th-ranked Crimson Hawks win a tight 64-56 game with California (PA) on Wednesday night at the Kovalchick Complex.
 
IUP improved to 19-3 overall with the win and remain in second place in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division with a 13-3 league record. The Crimson Hawks remain a half-game behind division-leading Gannon, as the Golden Knights edged Edinboro this evening to improve to 14-3 in the conference.
 
It was Dyer's sixth 20-point game of the season as he finished 7-of-12 from the field, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, and also went 5-of-6 from the foul line. He added three steals defensively in 37 minutes of court time.
 
IUP shot just 40 percent from the field, but outrebounded Cal 35-to-26 on the night. The Crimson Hawks pulled down 12 offensive rebounds and finished 17-of-23 from the foul line.
 
The Vulcans (12-10, 8-9) held an early 9-8 lead before a three-pointer by Brandon Norfleet (Virginia Beach, Va. /Landstown) keyed an 13-2 Crimson Hawks' run that gave them a 21-11 lead with under nine minutes to play in the first half. IUP was able to keep its lead around nine points until the Vulcans scored 10 of the last 15 points in the first half as the Crimson Hawks took a slim 31-27 lead into the break.
 
A three-pointer by Jeremy Jeffers (Wilson, N.C./Greenfield School) and a jumper from Devante Chance (Philadelphia, Pa. /Electrical & Technology Charter) gave IUP a seven point lead early in the second half. The Crimson Hawks later scored six straight points, including a layup-and-one from Norfleet to take another double-digit lead at 42-31 with 14:39 remaining.
 
The Crimson Hawks' lead was still in double-figures when Dyer drained a three while getting fouled, then hit his free throw on the other end of a media timeout to give IUP a 52-38 lead with 7:55 to go. The 14-point lead was the largest of the game for the Crimson Hawks.
 
Cal tried chipping away at its deficit, getting the game down to seven points at 58-51 with 2:28 to play. Dyer responded with a layup on the other end and Tevin Hanner (Baltimore, Md./Milford Mill) knocked down a pair of free throws on IUP's next possession to get the Crimson Hawks' lead back to 11 and put the game away.
 
Chance finished with 12 points and dished out five assists in nearly 40 minutes of action tonight. Jeffers also reached double-figures in scoring with 10 points, adding six rebounds.
 
The Vulcans were led by Khalil Jabbie with 15 points.
 
The Crimson Hawks remain at home this weekend as they face Gannon in what could decide home court advantage in the PSAC tournament. Tipoff for Saturday's game is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Kovalchick Complex.