Box Score SYRACUSE, N.Y. –
Anthony Glover (Toledo, Ohio/St. John's Jesuit) scored 15 points and dished out five assists, helping IUP get out to an early lead over 19th-ranked Syracuse before the Crimson Hawks eventually dropped an 83-65 decision in the Carrier Dome on Tuesday night.
Glover had nine points, two assists and two steals early to help the Crimson Hawks get out to a 22-10 lead less than eight minutes into the contest.
He was the only player to stay on the court for all 40 minutes, finishing 6-of-14 from the field, draining two three-pointers, and adding four steals against a Final Four participant from last season.
IUP led 24-13 after a jumper by
Blake Danielak (Georgetown, Tex./Liberty Hill) at the 10:34 mark and still held onto an 11-point lead at 29-18 three minutes later. The Crimson Hawks held onto the lead for 12:02 in the first half.
The Orange then reeled off 14 straight points and finished off the half on a 20-4 run to take a 38-33 lead into halftime.
Syracuse took its lead to 10 early in the second half before a three by
Dante Lombardi (Indiana, Pa./The Kiski School) brought the deficit back to seven at 43-36 at the 16:53 mark.
The Crimson Hawks kept Syracuse at arm's length throughout most of the second half, trailing by just 11 at 63-52 after another three by Lombardi with just under seven minutes to play.
Lombardi made three triples and finished with 14 points on the night, adding four rebounds and three assists.
Both Danielak and
Jacobo Diaz (Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain/CBA Gran Canaria) had 11 points, with Diaz grabbing a team-high six rebounds.
The Crimson Hawks shot 38.1 percent for the night (24-of-63), converting more than 40 percent in the second half.
This was the first of two exhibition games against Division I schools this week for the Crimson Hawks, who will face defending national champion Villanova this Saturday in Philadelphia. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m.
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP Men's Basketball on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk and @IUPMens_Bball.
